1. Prehistory

2. Prehistory
Historians generally use documents or written records to recreate the past.
Prehistory means the period before writing was developed.

3. Archaeology *Artifacts-tools, pottery, paintings, weapons, buildings
*The study of past societies based on an analysis of what people left behind-artifacts
*Artifacts-tools, pottery, paintings, weapons, buildings

4. Anthropology The study of human life and culture
Use the remains of humans and other artifacts to create theories of past life and lifestyles

5. Dating Artifacts and Fossils
These scientists develop theories based on:
Stratigraphy: idea that is based on the idea that older artifacts or remains will be found deeper than those found above them
Radiocarbon dating: used to estimate the age of living things based on the radioactive particles that are present

6. Early Stages of Human Development

7. Early Humans Lucy—click to view video clip
First humanlike creatures lived 4 million years ago-australopithecines “southern ape” in Africa
Hominid-walked upright and made simple tools
They also were discovered to have an opposable thumb that allowed them to pick up and hold objects—tools which would be made primarily of stone.
Lucy—click to view video clip

8. Homo habilis A more advanced hominid with a larger brain.
“Man of Skill”
Developed 2.5 to 1.6 million years ago.
May have used stone tools (made of lava).

9. Homo Erectus “upright human being” Used tools for specialized purposes
Dug for food, cut meat from animal bones, and scraped animal skins
First use of fire
May have had the first spoken language
Lived about 1.6 million years ago
Homo erectus—click to view video clip

10. Homo Sapiens
By around 200,000 BC, these modern humans lived in Africa—they eventually migrated to Eurasia, Australia, and North America
“wise human being”
Neanderthals and Homo sapiens sapiens (“wise wise human being”)
It is unclear if these two competed with one another, but evidence supports the idea that they did live near each other.

11. Homo sapiens Neanderthal Cro-Magnon “Homo sapiens sapiens”
Lived in caves or built shelter of wood/animal remains
Found ways to survive the freezing temperatures of the Ice Age
First to bury the dead-would imply a belief in the afterlife
Disappeared around 30,000 BC
“Homo sapiens sapiens”
Truly modern humans
“thinking thinking man”
More environmentally adaptive

12. Eras of Early Human Life
Paleolithic Age (Old Stone Age)
Historians usually date this period from 2,500,000 to 8,000 BCE.
Early humans used stone tools and utilized hunting (men) and gathering (women) techniques to get their food. They were nomadic people (moved place to place).
Found shelter in caves or created shelters using wooden poles and animal hides.
Used fire to keep warm and to cook their food.

13. Eras of Early Human Life
The hunter-gatherer lifestyle led early humans to develop a close relationship with the world around them.
As a result, early humans sought to depict the world they saw.
Why might early humans have created cave paintings?

14. Eras of Early Human Life
The Mesolithic Age (Middle Stone Age)
Depending on place, dates somewhere in 8000 BCE to BCE
Specialized stone tools such as the bow and arrow, fishhooks, harpoons, and canoes

15. Eras of Early Human Life
The Neolithic Age (New Stone Age)
Dates from about 10,000 to 8,000 years ago
Polished tools such as wedges, saws, drills, chisels, and needles
Period of systematic agriculture (growing food on a regular basis) and domestication (adapt for human use) of animals

16. Agricultural Revolution
The shift from hunting animals and gathering food to using of animals and growing of food
Occurred at different times around the world
Humans had greater control over their world
Began to settle in communities
*Possibly the most important development in human history

17. Bronze Age The end of the Neolithic Age comes with the use of metals
Dates from around 3000 BC to BC
Led to an increase in concentrations of people in river valleys and a rise of civilizations

18. Civilization
A complex culture in which large numbers of human beings share a number of common elements
Rise of Cities
Growth of Governments (maintain food surplus)
Organized Religion
Social Structure
Use of Writing
Artistic Activity

19. Other Characteristics
Development of specific culture-way of life of a people
Rise of monarchs-king or queen who ruled a kingdom
Rise of artisans-skilled workers that made items such as weapons or jewelry