Human Originsin Africa

Chapter One Section One

How doe we know what were the earliest humans like?

1. No written records of prehistoric humans

2. Prehistory dates back to the time before the invention of writing, roughly 5,000 years ago

3. Archeologists have studied the earliest humans by excavating, archaeological digs, analyzing evidence such as artifacts and bones

Culture – People’s Unique way of life How is culture learned?

Media Family Friends Workplace School Religion Government

Culture - Components Common Practices

Food Clothing Sports Tools/technology

Shared Understandings Language Religion Values Arts beliefs

Social Organizations Family Social class Relationships Government economy

Mary Leakey

Archaeologist Searched for human remains in

Africa 1930’s Discovery of “Lucy” Read Primary Source in unit

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The old Stone Age Paleolithic Age

Another term for old stone age Prehistoric – interventions of tools, mastery over

fire, language 2.5 million to 8000 B.C. Stone chopping tools

Neolithic Age The New Stone Age 8000 B.C.-3000 B.C. Polish stone tools Make pottery Grow cops Raise animals

Homo erectus

Up right man 1.6 million years ago Adaptable species Skillful hunters Sophisticated tools First to use fire Spoken language

Modern Humans Many scientists believe homo erectus developed

into homo sapiens “Wise men” Larger Brains Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons have been

classified as early homo sapiens Cro-Magnons

40,000 years ago Skeletal remains appear to be identical to modern

humans Planned hunts Spoken language

See Chart page 8-9

Early Human Migration

See Map on page 10 Interpreting Maps (1-6) in unit one

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