1. The Origin
of Civilizations

2. Highlights of the Paleolithic Era
Time of 1st hominids (3 million years ago) to Agricultural Revolution (c BCE)
By 12,000 BCE, modern humans were established on six continents.
Modern human populations (homo sapiens) spread gradually from Africa since c.120,000 BCE.

3. Behaviorally Modern Humans
Rapid growth in intelligence and language capacity.
Racial differentiation.
Complex tool-making and development of culture.
50,000 YA
Today
In the Beginning...
Homo Sapiens Sapiens
Physically modern humans.
Began migration out of Africa.
Dependence on more sophisticated tools.
200,000 YA
Archaic Homo Sapiens
Brain size approaches that of modern Humans.
Coexisted w/ Neanderthals.
May have used earliest forms of language.
500,000 YA
Time
Homo Erectus
Approached size of modern humans.
More advanced tools; basic stone axes and knives.
Early hunter-gather society.
1.5 Million YA
Homo Habilis
First use of basic stone tools (flint flakes).
Primarily carnivorous.
First completely non-tree dweller.
2.5 Million YA
Australopithecus
Famous “Lucy” fossil found.
Primarily fruit eater, but may have been omnivorous.
No evidence of tool use.
3.5 Million YA
Ardipithecus
Shared common ancestor with Chimpanzee.
First primate to walk fully upright (partially arboreal).
Herbivorous.
4.5 Million YA
5 Million YA

4. Migrations of Homo sapiens
Siberia
40,000 years ago
Europe
40,000 years ago
North America
12,000-30,000
years ago
Southwest Asia
100,000 years ago
Oceania
1600 B.C.E.-500 C.E.
Human Origins
200, ,000
years ago
Australia
as many as 60,000
years ago
Chile
12, ,000
years ago
Possible coastal routes of human migration
Possible landward routes of human migration
Migrations in Oceania

5. What innovations & adaptations happened in the Paleolithic Era?
Control Fire
Hide-Based Clothing
Stone & Bone Tools
Spoken Language (not writing)

6. Life for Paleolithic Peoples
Nomadic or semi-nomadic
No accumulation of wealth or property
No social classes.
Gender equality: Men hunted, women were actively involved in food gathering; labor sharing common.

7. What is the significance of the Paleolithic era in world history?
Migration across the globe
Began reflection on questions of life & death
Foundation for all other subsequent human history

8. How might our attitudes toward the modern world influence our assessment of Paleolithic societies?
Superiority of modern world
Use as criticism of modern life

9. The Last Ice Age
70,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE

10. The Neolithic Revolution
(8000 BCE – 3500 BCE)
A.K.A Agricultural Revolution.
Gradual domestication of plants and animals in Southwest Asia. (Fertile Crescent)
Nomadic peoples become sedentary.
Populations increase rapidly

11. Technological Advancements
Wheeled Vehicles
Makes labor easier, and enhances trade
Metallurgy
Working of metals for tools & weapons.
Irrigation & Plows
Food surplus  pop. growth!

12. Between about 12,000 and 1,000 BCE, farming
Eastern North America
China
Fertile Crescent
Nile valley
West
Africa
Mesoamerica
Ethiopia
New Guinea
Amazonia
Andes
Between about 12,000 and 1,000 BCE, farming
appeared INDEPENDENTLY in a number of places,
possibly in all of the places marked in red on the map.

13. Dog (15,000 BCE)
Sheep (11,000 BCE)
Goat (10,000 BCE)
Pig (9000 BCE)
Cow (8000 BCE)
Cat (7000 BCE)
Chicken (6000 BCE)
Donkey (5000 BCE)
Water Buffalo (4000 BCE)
Horse (4000 BCE)

14. The Agricultural Revolution
Based on what you have learned today, why do you think the development of agriculture occurred around the same time in several different places?

15. Theories Population increase Climate Change
Migration of big game animals
Shift in the distribution and growing patterns of wild grains
Experimentation by Hunter-gatherers

16. Advantages/Disadvantages of Agriculture
Steady food supplies
Greater populations
Leads to occupational specialization (new jobs like soldiers, politicians, etc.)
Disadvantages
Heavily dependant on certain food crops (failure = starvation)
Disease from close contact with animals, humans, & waste
Social inequality (class), & patriarchy

17. Social Structure of Traditional Societies
Ruling Elite: King, court, religious establishment
Aristocracy: Warrior class, landholding elite
Middle Class: Merchants, craftsmen, artisans
Peasantry: Farmers, laborers, servants
Underclass: Slaves, untouchables

18. Using information gathered from digs, why do some archaeologists believe that women were the first farmers?

19. Theories
Women were usually the gatherers and therefore knew the growing cycles of many plants, etc…..
Women did not leave the temporary settlement to go hunt, therefore had more time to experiment with plants

20. Sedentary Farming leads to development of towns
Catal Huyuk - Modern Turkey
First settled: c BCE

23. Jericho - Modern Israel
First settled: c BCE

24. Anyang - Modern China
First settled: c BCE

25. Why is the
"Neolithic Revolution"
a turning point
in human history??

26. Domestication of Plants and Animals
Farming
Population
Intensification
Surplus Food
Specialization
Complex Society,
also known as
CIVILIZATION