Prehistory is the time before written records were kept.

Because these people didn’t write down their history we have to do our best to figure out what happened.

STANDARD WHI.2aThe student will demonstrate knowledge of early development of humankind from the Paleolithic Era to the agricultural revolution bya) explaining the impact of geographic environment on hunter-gatherer societies.b) listing characteristics of hunter-gatherer societies, including their use of tools and fire.

A first-hand, or eyewitness, account of an eventMore accurate than a secondary source.Ex: Artifacts, human remains, written records from the time.

A second-hand source of informationNot as accurate as a primary sourceEx: Textbook, hearing information from others than an eyewitness.

Anthropologists & Archaeologists

Anthropology is the study of the origins and development of people and their societies.

Archaeology is a specialized branch of anthropology. – They study past people and cultures

Archaeologists study artifacts, objects made by human beings.

– By looking at artifacts they can see how people developed technology, the skills and tools people use to meet their basic needs.

1

The study of past societies through an analysis of what people have left behind.

Artifacts are those things that people left behind, they can include:

Tools and Weapons Art and Sculpture Pottery

Jewelry Human Remains

Ancient Buildings and Monuments

The study of human life and culture

The remains of ancient plants and animals.

By studying fossils archaeologists and anthropologists can learn about what people ate, what animals they had around, and their way of life.

Carbon dating can be used to date organic artifacts, or things that were once alive

All living things contain a radioactive isotope of Carbon called Carbon 14 which they absorb from the sun while they are alive.

Carbon 14 has a half-life of 5000 years. That means it takes 5,000 years for half of the Carbon 14 in something to break down.

If we know how much Carbon 14 something has left we can count back to how much is had to begin with to determine the age of the artifact. Is limited to things 50,000 years old or less.

Thermo luminescence Dating: Measures the light given off by the electrons in soil surrounding artifacts. Can measure up to 200,000 years.

1. 1. 4,000,000 BCE – 1,000,000 BCE4,000,000 BCE – 1,000,000 BCE1. 1. 4,000,000 BCE – 1,000,000 BCE4,000,000 BCE – 1,000,000 BCE

2. 2. 1,500,000 BCE -- 250,000 BCE1,500,000 BCE -- 250,000 BCE2. 2. 1,500,000 BCE -- 250,000 BCE1,500,000 BCE -- 250,000 BCE

3. 3. 250,000 BCE – 30,000 BCE250,000 BCE – 30,000 BCE3. 3. 250,000 BCE – 30,000 BCE250,000 BCE – 30,000 BCE

4. 30,000 BCE -- 10,000 BCE

Paleolithic AgePaleolithic Age::( Old Stone Age )( Old Stone Age )

2,500,000 BCE 2,500,000 BCE to 8,000 BCE to 8,000 BCE

Paleolithic AgePaleolithic Age::( Old Stone Age )( Old Stone Age )

2,500,000 BCE 2,500,000 BCE to 8,000 BCE to 8,000 BCE

4,000,000 BCE – 1,000,000 BCE4,000,000 BCE – 1,000,000 BCE4,000,000 BCE – 1,000,000 BCE4,000,000 BCE – 1,000,000 BCE

Hominids --> any memberHominids --> any member of the family of two-legged of the family of two-legged primates that includes all primates that includes all humans. humans.

Hominids --> any memberHominids --> any member of the family of two-legged of the family of two-legged primates that includes all primates that includes all humans. humans.

AustralopithecinesAustralopithecines AustralopithecinesAustralopithecines

An Apposable An Apposable Thumb Thumb

An Apposable An Apposable Thumb Thumb

HOMO HABILISHOMO HABILIS ( “Man of Skills” )( “Man of Skills” ) HOMO HABILISHOMO HABILIS ( “Man of Skills” )( “Man of Skills” )

found in East found in East Africa.Africa.

found in East found in East Africa.Africa. created stone created stone tools.tools.

created stone created stone tools.tools.

1,6000,000 BCE – 30,000 BCE1,6000,000 BCE – 30,000 BCE1,6000,000 BCE – 30,000 BCE1,6000,000 BCE – 30,000 BCE

HOMO ERECTUS HOMO ERECTUS ( “Upright Human Being” )( “Upright Human Being” ) HOMO ERECTUS HOMO ERECTUS ( “Upright Human Being” )( “Upright Human Being” )

Larger and more varied Larger and more varied tools --> primitive technology tools --> primitive technology

Larger and more varied Larger and more varied tools --> primitive technology tools --> primitive technology

First hominid to migrate andFirst hominid to migrate and leave Africa for Europe and leave Africa for Europe and Asia. Asia.

First hominid to migrate andFirst hominid to migrate and leave Africa for Europe and leave Africa for Europe and Asia. Asia.

First to use fire ( 500,000 BCE First to use fire ( 500,000 BCE ))

First to use fire ( 500,000 BCE First to use fire ( 500,000 BCE ))

BIPEDALISMBIPEDALISM BIPEDALISMBIPEDALISM

200,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE200,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE200,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE200,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE

HOMO SAPIENSHOMO SAPIENS ( “Wise Human Being” )( “Wise Human Being” )

HOMO SAPIENSHOMO SAPIENS ( “Wise Human Being” )( “Wise Human Being” )

NeanderthalsNeanderthals( 200,000 BCE – 30,000 BCE )( 200,000 BCE – 30,000 BCE )

11stst group to Bury their dead! group to Bury their dead!

NeanderthalsNeanderthals( 200,000 BCE – 30,000 BCE )( 200,000 BCE – 30,000 BCE )

11stst group to Bury their dead! group to Bury their dead!

Cro-MagnonsCro-Magnons( 40,000 BCE – 10,000 ( 40,000 BCE – 10,000

BCE )BCE )

Excellent hunters!Excellent hunters!

Cro-MagnonsCro-Magnons( 40,000 BCE – 10,000 ( 40,000 BCE – 10,000

BCE )BCE )

Excellent hunters!Excellent hunters!

NEANDERTHALSNEANDERTHALSNEANDERTHALSNEANDERTHALS

Early Hut/TentEarly Hut/TentEarly Hut/TentEarly Hut/Tent

Human BeingsBy 10,000 B.C. Homo Sapiens Sapiens could be found throughout the world due to

migration.

During the last ice age

between 100,000 B.C.

and 8000 B.C. the

water level in the oceans

dropped revealing a land bridge connecting Asia and

North America

CRO-MAGNONs:CRO-MAGNONs:CRO-MAGNONs:CRO-MAGNONs: Homo sapiens sapiensHomo sapiens sapiens ( “Wise, wise human” )( “Wise, wise human” )

Homo sapiens sapiensHomo sapiens sapiens ( “Wise, wise human” )( “Wise, wise human” )

By 30,000 BCE theyBy 30,000 BCE they replaced replaced Neanderthals.Neanderthals.

WHY???WHY??? WHY???WHY???

Are we all Africans “under the Are we all Africans “under the skin”????skin”????

Are we all Africans “under the Are we all Africans “under the skin”????skin”????

70,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE70,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE70,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE70,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE

“Paleo” means old “Lithic” means stone

Paleolithic= Old Stone Age. This era was called the stone age because early man used stone to make his tools and weapons.

Paleolithic man lived in groups called clans.These clans got their food by Hunting and GatheringOnce the food supply ran out they would move to a different area. Because they moved from place to place they were Nomadic.

Essential KnowledgeWere Nomadic: Wandered from place to place in search of food and shelterInvented the first tools and weapons including simple stone tools.Lived in groups called clans of about 20-30 people, used caves for shelter.Learned to make and control fire to keep warm and cook their food.Developed oral, or spoken languageMade cave art and statues.

The role of men was to do the huntingThe role of women was gathering and caring for children

Gathering was a more reliable source of food and so in Paleolithic society it is thought that it may have been Matriarchal, or female dominated.

Women were often seen at the time as symbols of life and fertility. Many ancient religions were centered around the worship of the earth and the woman was often representative of the earth and life because of the fact that women gave birth.

It is thought that early man often drew, or made representations of what he/she wanted to happen. Fertility statues for having many

children, paintings of successful hunts etc.

Pre-Historic Man in the Paleolithic Age (Different than ancient man)

Neanderthal People Cro-Magnon People

When they lived 200,000 B.C.- 30,000 B.C.?

(may have been absorbed by Cro-Magnon)

30,000 B.C.-10,000 B.C.

Physicalcharacteristics

powerfully built heavy jaws, thick eyebrow ridges, large noses

looked more like modern people; high foreheads, well defined chins, small eyebrow ridges

Where they lived

Europe, the Middle East, Asia, lived in caves

southern France and Spain; lived in caves

Tools they used

more efficient tools than preceding groups used fire to develop new techniques for fashioning bifacial tools, arrowheads and scrapers, implements that were essential for the survival of his tribe.

more advanced tools thanNeanderthal greater use of the animals he hadhunted.The skins were used tomake clothes,antlers to make tool handles,needlesAnd hooks and he gradually began tofarm the land and then to breedanimals (from 5000 BC).

ImportantAccomplishments

wore clothes; cared for the sick; buried the dead with tools; probably the first to cook food

invented the spear; better hunters,

could draw and paint,

Use of FireEarly man learned to use fire to adapt to his environment.It was probably discovered from friction, lightning, or accidental hitting two rocks together.

Ice AgesFire was very important during the ice ages. Without fire man would not have been able to survive.

Cave ArtMan has created art for a very long time. There is some argument as to what this art was for. Was it art as art, or art as a form of religion?

STANDARD WHI.2aThe student will demonstrate knowledge of early development of humankind from the Paleolithic Era to the agricultural revolution byc) describing technological and social advancements that gave rise to stable communities.

“Neo” means new“Lithic” means stoneNeolithic means new stone age.

The Neolithic Agricultural Revolution was the change from the Paleolithic period to the Neolithic Period.

The thing that allowed for this change was the discovery of agriculture.It is thought that women discovered agriculture.

Systematic Agriculture was the consistent growing of crops on a continuing basis.

Domestication of Animals: In addition to growing crops Neolithic man also tamed animals for hunting (dogs) and other animals for their food such as sheep, cows, etc. . .

Developed AgricultureDomesticated AnimalsUsed Advanced Stone ToolsDeveloped Weaving (better clothing)Made Pottery (for food storage)

Regional discoveries of cultural representations during Paleolithic and early Neolithic Eras

10,000 bce – 1000 CE

1000 CE – 2000 CE

Variations on Agriculture

As agriculture spread different areas began to grow different crops that were suited to their environment.

From Subsistence to Surplus Farming

These places where people began to settle down, grow crops, and start villages became known as the Cradles of Civilization.

Most of these areas were in river valleys. This first was Mesopotamia between the Tigris and Euphrates River Valleys.

Other river valleys include The Nile in Egypt, the Indus in India, and the Huang He in China.

These villages spread throughout Europe and the rest of the world.

The oldest and largest of the villages are found in SW Asia.

Found in ancient Palestine near the Dead sea. It was in existence by 8000 B.C.

Found in Anatolia (Modern Day Turkey)Its walls enclosed 32 acres and up to 6,000 people.Grew many different crops and developed artisans and trade.

Çatal Çatal HüyükHüyükÇatal Çatal HüyükHüyük

Development of Writing

• Out of economic need to keep records

• Impacts social hierarchy (those who can write and those who can’t)

• For historians the issue is from whose perspective do we receive the written history

• Develops in similar pattern but final style is different as are other cultural representations

Monument begun in the Neolithic age and finished in the Bronze AgeLocated on the Salisbury Plain in England

What it may have looked like at completion

As villages turned into cities, men took over the work of farming. Now men were the primary providers of food and women no longer filled that role.

Because of this the role of women changed to that of family caregiver and society became mostly male dominated (patriarchal) in most cultures

CopperThe first metal used by ancient man was copper. This was a natural metal And could be cast into tools.

Bronze AgeLater, copper was mixed with tin to make Bronze. Bronze was the metal of choice for a long time.

Agricultural SurplusAs farming technology improved people were able to grow the food they needed. Because of this not everyone had to work on providing food anymore and so people could do other things.

ArtisansPeople who made crafts such as textiles (fabrics), pottery, jewelry, etc. . . People could do what they were good at instead of having to farm.

Specialization of LaborBecause people could focus on one particular thing technology and skills improved.

Storage of FoodPottery and other devices were invented as ways to grow extra food. This extra food was vital for feeding a growing population.

TradeAs artisans made goods they began to exchange goods with other villages, and later cities, who had different goods. This was a barter system.

An agricultural surplus led to the emergence of civilization

CultureThe way of life of a

group of peopleRise of cities

Growth of Government.

Usually monarchs

Emergence of Religion

Priests take an active role. New Social

StructureDifferent social

classes emerge

Use of WritingFirst was

Cuneiform in Sumer

Artistic ActivityTemples, Pyramids,

Palaces, Painting, and Sculpture