2. Toward Civilization Prehistory - 3500 B.C.

3. Understanding Our Past What methods do scientists use to find out about early peoples? How do historians reconstruct the past? How are geography and history linked?

4. Interpretations are subject to change Interpretations of history are subject to change as new information is uncovered.

5. How do we know about prehistory? Prehistoric humans could not write. Prehistory refers to the time before writing was invented (writing was invented about 3,500 B.C.E.). There were no cities, governments, or complex inventions. Who analyzes prehistoric evidence?Who analyzes prehistoric evidence?

6. The “Team” Archaeologists Botanists Chemists Geologists Biologists Paleoanthropologists

7. Archaeologists find artifacts (things) including man-made tools, weapons, and pottery.

9. Botanists work with plants study fossilized pollen, seeds, and animal bones to determine diet.

10. Chemists determine the ages of plants, animals, rocks, and fossils.

11. Geologists study the history of the earth and its life, especially as recorded in rocks. examen fossils - plants and animals preserved in rocks.

13. Biologists study life. study human bones. study bloodstains on tools/weapons. study fossils and sometimes geographic evidence of prehistoric life (paleontology - a branch of biology).

14. Paleoanthropologists examine, analyze, report on, and compare different cultures and how they grow, develop, and interact study the origins and developments of people and their societies

17. Laetoli Footprints Who left the prints? How were they preserved? How old are they? http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/archaeology/sites/africa/laetoli.html http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/evolution/library/07/1/l_071_03.html

19. Çatalhöyük What does the wall painting tell us? What did the people eat? What was the purplish dust found at the site? http://www.smm.org/catal/introduction/ http://www.catalhoyuk.com/

21. Tyrolean Iceman How did he die? How old is he? What did he eat? http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ice mummies/iceman.html What were his weapons?

23. A history told from just one point of view Details about the past vary depending on the opinion of the historian. A history told from just one point of view would be opinionated, limited in details, and possibly from a biased perspective.

24. Historians Recorded history began about 5,000 years ago (in different parts of the world). Historians rely on written evidence to determine how people lived in the past. Historians also study artifacts such as clothing, coins, art, weapons, etc.. A historian is a detective. Remember the lunchroom - a history told from just ONE historian is not enough!