1. Paleolithic Era
“Archaeological evidence indicates that during the Paleolithic era, hunter-forager bands of humans gradually migrated from their origin in East Africa to Eurasia, Australia, and the Americas, adapting their technology and cultures to new climate regions.” - page 37 of framework
What is the Paleolithic era?
2.6 million - 10,000 years ago
Most humans hunted and gathered their food

2. Tools Humans developed diverse and sophisticated tools: Sharp knives
Spears
Bows and Arrows
Fire:
Defense against animals
Force prey into enclosed areas to hunt
Encouraged the growth of certain plants by destroying others

3. Living Structures
People lived in small groups (bands) people - that impacted them in the following ways:
Socially:
Males were often hunters - often large animals
Females were often gatherers
Often egalitarian societies
Life expectancy was 35ish
Economically:
Worked fewer hours than Neolithic counterparts
Bands would trade goods with each other

4. Living Structures Politically: No chiefs or kings
Bands had rules about sharing food
Leaders would rise, but did NOT have permanent power
People, ideas, and goods were exchanged between these groups

5. Neolithic Revolution
Around 10,000 years ago, some humans began to domesticate plants and animals
This led to communities, civilizations, and new economic and social systems

6. Why & Where Did Permanent Villages Develop?
Possibly due to climate change (last Ice Age was 16, ,000 years ago), more fertile land became available
Where?
Mesopotamia
Nile River Valley
Sub-Saharan Africa
Indus River Valley
Yellow River Valley
Papua New Guinea
Mesoamerica
Andes

7. Domestication Of Plants & Animals
Mesopotamia
Wheat and barely, goats, sheep, cattle
Nile River Valley
Wild grains, gourds, watermelon, cattle
Sub-Saharan Africa
Sorghum

8. Domestication Of Plants & Animals
Indus River Valley
Wheat, barley, cattle, sheep, goats
Yellow River Valley
Millet and soybeans, pigs, chicken
Papua New Guinea
Bananas, sugarcane, yam

9. Domestication Of Plants & Animals
Mesoamerica
Maize (corn), peppers, beans, tomatoes
Andes
Beans, Alpaca, llamas

10. Pastoralism Cultural Diffusion! What is it?
Raising animals and moving them from one grazing area to another
Where did it develop?
Africa and Eurasia
How did it affect the environment?
Grass in certain areas would be destroyed
Pastoralists also helped spread goods and ideas
Cultural Diffusion!

11. Agricultural Communities’ Impact On The Environment
Slash-and-burn cultivation:
Trees would be burned to produce fertile soil
Repeat process in a new area after a few years
Fields would be cleared to grow crops
Irrigation developed to grow crops

12. Quick Recap Human origins in East Africa
Different tools used by humans, including fire
How bands impacted human life
Neolithic Revolution
Plants and Animals in each region
Pastoralism and its environmental impacts
Agricultural communities’ impacts on the environment