1. Chapter 1
The First Humans

2. Section 1: Early Humans
Prehistory is a period of time where written records do not exist
Most of prehistory is based on theories
What are the two studies based on the discovery of prehistoric theories?
Archaeology and Anthropology

3. Archaeologists
Archaeology – the study of past people and cultures through what they have left behind. Archaeologist dig up artifacts of early people
Ex. tools, pottery, paintings, weapons, buildings

4. Anthropologists
Anthropology – the study of humans – both past and present
Anthropologists want to tell the story of how humans lived and to learn different aspects of their culture
Culture – refers to the way of life of a society, including its beliefs, practices and values

5. Important Archaeologists
Mary and Louis Leakey – searched for artifacts in Tanzania in a canyon called Olduvai Gorge
Found a bone of a hominid (a humanlike creature) estimated to be 2 million years old

6. The First Humans
Much of our knowledge of early humans depends on guesswork
Early humans and other creatures that could walk upright were known as hominids

7. Australopithecines
Donald Johanson discovered a 3 million year old complete Australopithecine skeleton
He named the skeleton Lucy
Australopithecines are part of the first stage of human development and are known as “southern apes”, they flourished in Africa 3 -4 million years ago
They were the first hominids to use simple stone tools

8. Homo habilis
Known as the “handy man” because they could use larger and more varied tools
Flourished about 2 million years ago
Could use their tools for cutting, scraping, chopping, or sawing plants, animals and wood

9. Homo erectus
Flourished 1.5 million years ago, they were fully upright walkers
They were notable for having larger brains
They were the first to leave Africa for the colder climate of Europe because they could use fire

10. Homo sapiens Developed around 250,000 years ago – “wise human beings”
Around 100,000 years ago they developed in two groups

11. Homo sapiens Neanderthals – lived in the Neander Valley in Germany
Believed to be the first hominids to bury their dead, indicating the belief in an afterlife
Made clothing from the skins of animals
Disappeared mysteriously around 30,000 years ago
Homo sapiens sapiens – The first modern humans
Followed animal migration patterns and over tens of thousands of years they populated the earth
Everyone on earth today is a member of the Homo sapiens sapiens species

12. Paleolithic Means “Old Stone Age”
Period of history between 2.5 million B.C. and 10,000 B.C. in which humans used simple stone tools
Digging sticks, axes and spears made of bone, wood and stone
Hunted and gathered
Lived in small bands of 20 or 30 people
Nomadic – The moved from place to place following vegetation cycles and animal migration

13. Paleolithic Age Continued
There was a rough equality between men and women – both were responsible for finding food
Usually men hunted and women gathered so they could take care of the children
Housing consisted of caves or structures made of animal bones and hides
Spoken language developed at some point allowing for communication

14. Paleolithic Age Continued
The making of tools and the use of fire were the two most important technological inventions of the Paleolithic Age
Animism – belief that spirits, inhabit plants, animals, or other natural objects – part of the religious beliefs of Paleo peoples
Cave paintings at Lascaux France and Altimara Spain indicate the paleos painted for decorative purposes

15. The Neolithic Revolution
Neolithic Age – Occurred from 8,000 B.C. to 4,000 B.C.
Neolithic means “New Stone Age”
During this period there was a shift from hunting and gathering to keeping animals and growing food – This event is called the Neolithic Revolution

16. Neolithic Age Continued
The Neolithic revolution can be considered the greatest achievement in human history
It gave humans a regular food supply, giving them a greater control of the environment and allowing them to give up nomadic ways to settle in communities
The transition to systematic agriculture was a slow process that took thousands of years

17. Neolithic Age
Surpluses in food allowed for some people to be involved in activities other than farming
Artisans – craftspeople who traded for their food
When food was scarce warfare between Neolithic villages increased
Villages were likely led by a council of elders or a chief
More personal property was accumulated by settled people and differences in wealth emerged

18. Neolithic Age
People specialized in making products such as pots, baskets and clothes
Men began to dominate the relationship with women because the importance of gathering had diminished

19. New Societies
As Neolithic settlements developed and grew, walls were placed around villages and armies were created
More complex societies would emerge independently around 4,000 BCE and new patterns of human life were beginning
Civilizations began in river valleys in Mesopotamian, Egypt, India and China

20. Characteristics of a Civilization
Cities
Well-Organized Governments
Complex Religions
Job Specialization
Social Classes
Arts and Architecture
Public Works
Writing

21. Cities Much larger than the Neolithic towns
Most cities rose in river valleys that could maintain large scale farming needed to feed large populations

22. Governments
The first governments were created to manage the food supply and the building of walls to protect the cities
The first governments were ruled by warrior kinds who issued laws, collected taxes and organized defense
Over time departments were created to oversee certain government responsibilities
Power was usually hereditary and passed on within the royal family
The king was sometimes believed to be a god

23. Complex Religion Polytheistic – belief in many gods
Religion began as a way to explain the existence and forces of nature
The gods were believed to control trade, war, birth and most aspects of human life
Priests performed rituals to keep the gods happy

24. Job Specialization Artisans were skilled craftspeople
Metalworking would begin to emerge around 4,000 BCE
Bricklayers, soldiers, singers, dancers and merchants are examples of specialized labor

25. Social Class
A hierarchy of society emerged in most early civilizations, ranking people based on their jobs
The Royal Family and Priests were at the top followed by a group of nobles
Wealthy merchants were in a lower class followed by artisans
Peasants composed the bulk of the population and were farmers
Some civilizations had slaves, who were usually captured women and children
Some families sold children into slavery to pay debts

26. Art and Architecture
Allowed ancient civilizations to express their talent, beliefs and values
Temples and palaces dominated city landscapes and showed the power of a ruler or the religion

27. Public Works
Government organized projects such as the building of irrigation systems, roads, bridges or walls
Public works often required the mass organization of labor

28. Writing
Writing may have begun by priests who needed to record information about rituals or to preserve information about the seasons
Early writing consisted of pictographs, simple drawings that looked like the object they represented
Scribes – trained people who could read and write

29. Civilizations Change
Some people remained nomadic but interacted with cities through trade
Environmental catastrophes could also cause movement of people
Cultural Diffusion – the spread of ideas, customs and technologies as civilizations interact with one another
City-States – political unit that includes the city and the surrounding area
Empire – different states controlled by a single ruler