1. August 10th Warm-Up How do we obtain information about prehistoric times?

2. How do we obtain information about prehistoric times?
Prehistory is period of time before humans developed writing.
So if there is no writing about a time period, how do we know what happened?

3. Prehistory & Early Man

5. How do we obtain information about prehistoric times?
2 groups interpret Prehistory:
Anthropologists—study behavior & physical features of people
Archaeologists—study physical remains of people: fossils (pieces of people/plants preserved in earth) & artifacts (man-made objects)
Both groups try to understand the way of life (culture) of people in the past

6. Artifact, because it is man-made
Prehistory Quiz
Prehistory refers to the time before:
Writing
If an archaeologist finds a 2000 year old hairbrush, is this an artifact or a fossil?
Artifact, because it is man-made
Which type of scientist studies past human behavior?
Anthropologist

7. Early Man

8. Lucy
3.6 million years old hominid fossil found in Eastern Africa in 1974
1st Homo genus bipedal fossil found
Only 3’6” tall
Still part tree dwelling

9. Homo erectus or stand upright easily
1.6 million years old
Age 10-11, 5’3” was going to be around 6’
Found in Africa

10. The Stone Age
Stone Age refers to time when early hominids (creatures that walk upright) began to develop tools
Stone Age is broken into 3 periods: Paleolithic (Old), Mesolithic (Middle) Neolithic (New)

11. Early Human Accomplishments
Happened near end of Paleolithic and start of Neolithic
Manufactured range of stone and bone tools
Controlled fire: 3 reasons
Developed spoken language
Formulated artistic tradition
Created ritual practices
Organized social groups

12. Neolithic Revolution
People shifted from hunting & gathering to farming as a result of new agricultural methods:
Domesticated (tamed) animals—dogs, horses, cows, sheep, pigs
Technological advances—plow, loom, metal tools & weapons, planting seeds
Villages—farming allowed people to stay in one place rather than move to find new food supplies

18. What is a civilization?

19. Evidence of Ancient Civilizations

20. What is a civilization?
Civilization is a sophisticated culture possessing 5 key traits:
Advanced Cities
Specialized Workers
Record Keeping
Advanced Technology
Complex Institutions

21. Key Traits of Civilizations
Advanced Cities :
Centers of trade
Provide protection from outside forces

22. Key Traits of Civilizations
Specialized Workers :
Civilizations must have workers to carry out specialized duties. Each worker has a skill that allow them to contribute to society

23. Key Traits of Civilizations
Record Keeping :
Allows civilizations to communicate rules, keep track of trade and population, and record histories

24. Key Traits of Civilizations
Advanced Technology:
Inventions help advance societies by making work easier

25. Key Traits of Civilizations
Complex Institutions :
Government allows for order and stability in civilizations
Advanced civilizations built temples in cities to worship deities

26. How & Why Did Civilizations Begin?

27. Why Did Civilizations Begin?
People naturally have 3 needs that they want to be met:
Food—leads to trade
Security—leads to government
Creativity—leads to culture
All 3 together lead to people forming civilizations

28. Let’s Examine Some Important Information about the 4 Major River Valley Civilizations