1. Prehistory – Early Human Development

2. Prehistory
refers to the time before people developed writing
includes beginning of human life until approximately 5000 BCE
1st “human-like” creatures known as hominids
Radiocarbon dating used on prehistoric artifacts to determine age
Measures decaying carbon in organic objects (anything once living)
Can only be used if organic matter is less than 50,000 years old

3. Evolution of hominids:
Australopithecus
Homo Habilis
Homo Erectus
Homo Sapien
Later group known as Homo Sapien Sapien

4. Oldest hominid remains 3.2 million years old
- Johanson & Gray discover “Lucy” in 1974
Oldest hominid remains
3.2 million years old

5. Paleolithic Era
2 million years ago until approximately 8000 BCE
Includes all hominid development levels
Homo Erectus
Divided responsibilities
Males hunt & scavenged
Females raise kids & gather vegetables
Had 1st fire & clothing (possibly 500,000 years ago)
Probably started talking
Leads to oral traditions & communication of ideas/culture from generation to generation

6. Homo Sapiens
1st Homo Sapiens were known as Neanderthals
Appeared 200,000 years ago
Started in Africa, migrated to Europe about 100,000 years ago
Hunter/gatherers
Nomadic groups, 30-50
Migrated to climates suitable for weather (summer v. winter)
Improvements in tools
Culturally more advanced than homo erectus
Probably had 1st religion

7. Homo Sapien Sapiens
1st Homo Sapien Sapiens originated in Africa 50,000 years ago
Taller and less “built” than Neaderthals
More sophisticated – wore fitted clothes, jewelry, etc.
1st known cave paintings - communication
Cro-Magnons 1st European HSS
Began to have leaders
Strength, intelligence, organization

9. Development of Human Culture
Ice Ages contributed to human culture
Forced humans to migrate to warmer areas, adapt to colder climate, or die
Human culture was formed
Culture includes language, clothing, customs, religion, etc.

10. Neolithic Period
People began to establish permanent, sedentary villages
Villages established near rivers (constant water, good soil, animals, etc.)
New methods of agriculture, fertilization, specialization of labor, etc.
Earliest dated villages – Jericho in 8000 BCE and Catal Huyuk in 7000 BCE

11. Nomads vs. Farmers
Early human-like creatures were Nomadic
Traveled in small groups, hunted wild animals (high protein diet)
Later humans begin farming and growing food
Grown food was a high carb diet
Hunters Farmers
5’9”
5’3”
Male
Female
Avg. Age
5’5”
5’0” 26 19

12. Rise of Civilizations
must have cities in order to have civilization (Greek civitas)
cities have developed farming, trade, government, economy, art, etc.
Civilization is dependent on farming & availability of food
Excess food frees others to do different jobs
Leads to specialization of labor
Government is established to organize food production & distribution
Military established to protect citizens & food surplus
Writing is developed to keep track of food distribution & production
Eventually used for all other means (records, laws, medicine, education, etc.)

13. How to Find History Anthropologist- Archeologist
a scientists/historian who studies human cultures
Archeologist
A Scientists who works like a detective to uncover the story of prehistoric peoples

14. Indiana Jones

15. Continued Fossils Paleontologist
Evidence of early life preserved in rocks.
Paleontologist
Scientists who studies fossils