PREHISTORYPREHISTORYHuman evolution andHuman evolution and

social developmentsocial development

PREHISTORY

STONE AGES METAL AGES

Palaeolithic(5 million –9000 BC)

Neolithic(9000 –

6000 BC)

Copper Age(6000 –

1800 BC)

Bronze Age(1800 –

1200 BC)

Iron Age(1200 –300 BC)

Human ancestorsHuman ancestors AUSTRALOPITECUS AUSTRALOPITECUS

AFARENSISAFARENSIS 5 million years ago. 5 million years ago.

Africa.Africa. First species that First species that

walked on two feet.walked on two feet. They probably used They probably used

tools, but they tools, but they didn’t make them.didn’t make them.

HOMO HABILISHOMO HABILIS2 million years ago. 2 million years ago.

Africa.Africa.Upright position.Upright position.First species that First species that

made complex made complex tools.tools.

HOMO ERECTUSHOMO ERECTUS1.8 million years 1.8 million years

ago.ago.They lived in Africa They lived in Africa

and Asia.and Asia.Upright position.Upright position.First human species First human species

that controlled fire that controlled fire to cook, illuminate to cook, illuminate their caves and their caves and protect against wild protect against wild animals.animals.

HOMO HOMO ANTECESSORANTECESSOR

800.000 years ago. 800.000 years ago. Iberian peninsula.Iberian peninsula.

They made They made complex tools (e.g. complex tools (e.g. Excalibur Excalibur biface)biface)

They lived in They lived in caves.caves.

They cared about They cared about their dead.their dead.

HOMO SAPIENS HOMO SAPIENS NEANDERTALENSISNEANDERTALENSIS

500.000 – 30.000 500.000 – 30.000 years ago. Europe.years ago. Europe.

They were adapted They were adapted to the glacier to the glacier climate, and didn’t climate, and didn’t survive to the survive to the competition against competition against modern human modern human beings.beings.

First species that First species that buried their dead.buried their dead.

HOMO SAPIENS HOMO SAPIENS SAPIENSSAPIENS

130.000 years ago – 130.000 years ago – now. now.

African origin, they African origin, they spread all the world.spread all the world.

It is our own species, It is our own species, the only human the only human species nowadays.species nowadays.

They invented art.They invented art. They developed They developed

languageslanguages They have developed They have developed

lots of inventions lots of inventions since the Palaeolithic.since the Palaeolithic.

Modern human spreadModern human spread

I) Stone AgeI) Stone Age

PalaeolithicPalaeolithic

NeolithicNeolithic

PalaeolithicPalaeolithic Economical basisEconomical basis::

• Hunting, gathering and Hunting, gathering and fishingfishing

Way of lifeWay of life::• Nomadic.Nomadic.• They lived outdoors or in They lived outdoors or in

caves.caves.

InventionsInventions::• Use of fire.Use of fire.• Rough tools (of stone, Rough tools (of stone,

wood or bone): knives, wood or bone): knives, bifaces …bifaces …

• Weapons: spears, arches Weapons: spears, arches and arrows, maces…and arrows, maces…

• Canoes.Canoes.

Hunting was the main activity of human beings during the Palaeolithic in order Hunting was the main activity of human beings during the Palaeolithic in order to survive. They hunted all kind of animals, mainly big mammals: mammoths, to survive. They hunted all kind of animals, mainly big mammals: mammoths,

bison, deer…bison, deer…

Gathering consists in pick up fruits, seeds and roots of plants as Gathering consists in pick up fruits, seeds and roots of plants as food. It was another fundamental activity of human beings during food. It was another fundamental activity of human beings during

the Palaeolithic to survive.the Palaeolithic to survive.

Social organizationSocial organization::• Tribes and small familiar Tribes and small familiar

clans.clans. BeliefsBeliefs::

• Burials and sanctuaries inside Burials and sanctuaries inside the caves.the caves.

• Cave painting with magical Cave painting with magical purposes.purposes.

• Venus: fertility symbols.Venus: fertility symbols. ArtArt::

• It started in the Palaeolithic.It started in the Palaeolithic.• Cave painting inside the Cave painting inside the

caves.caves.• They painted mainly animals: They painted mainly animals:

bison, horses, mammoths, bison, horses, mammoths, bulls, etc.bulls, etc.

• The most important cave The most important cave paintings examples are in paintings examples are in northern Spain (Altamira) and northern Spain (Altamira) and souther France (Lascaux)souther France (Lascaux)..

Lithic industry (tools)Lithic industry (tools) The most used material to The most used material to

make weapons and tools make weapons and tools during the Stone Age was during the Stone Age was the flintstone.the flintstone.

Palaeolithic men made Palaeolithic men made tools of carved stone to tools of carved stone to hunt and divide into pieces hunt and divide into pieces the animals they hunted. the animals they hunted. The spear top in the photo The spear top in the photo is at least 13.000 years is at least 13.000 years old.old.

Hoes were used to cut Hoes were used to cut wood and sickles in wood and sickles in gathering tasks.gathering tasks.

NeolithicNeolithic Economical BasisEconomical Basis::

• Agriculture and animal Agriculture and animal breeding.breeding.

Way of lifeWay of life::• Sedentary.Sedentary.• They lived in villages.They lived in villages.

InventionsInventions::• Agriculture.Agriculture.• They domesticated They domesticated

animals.animals.• Pottery and textiles.Pottery and textiles.• Hoes, sickles, hand mills, Hoes, sickles, hand mills,

irrigation systems .irrigation systems .• Wheels, carriages, ships.Wheels, carriages, ships.

Social organizationSocial organization::• Social division of work Social division of work

(farmers, cattlers, (farmers, cattlers, craftsmen, warriors …)craftsmen, warriors …)

BeliefsBeliefs::• Their gods were Nature Their gods were Nature

Forces (Earth, Sun, Water, Forces (Earth, Sun, Water, Wind …)Wind …)

• They made ritualized burials They made ritualized burials taking into account social taking into account social hierarchy (flowers, pots, hierarchy (flowers, pots, weapons…)weapons…)

ArtArt::• Cave paintings outside the Cave paintings outside the

caves.caves.• They represented hunting They represented hunting

scenes, ceremonies …scenes, ceremonies …• They built potter and stone-They built potter and stone-

made idols.made idols.• Megalithic monuments.Megalithic monuments.

The expansion of agricultureThe expansion of agriculture

Megalithic monumentsMegalithic monuments

Menhir Dolmen Cromlech

Building techniquesBuilding techniques

The expansion of megalitismThe expansion of megalitism

End of Neolithic and beginning of Bronze End of Neolithic and beginning of Bronze AgeAge

II) Metal AgesII) Metal Ages

Copper AgeCopper Age

Bronze AgeBronze Age

Iron AgeIron Age

Metal AgesMetal Ages Economical basisEconomical basis::

• Agriculture and animal Agriculture and animal breeding.breeding.

• Trade.Trade.• Metal industry.Metal industry.

Way of lifeWay of life::• Villages.Villages.• Born of first cities.Born of first cities.

InventionsInventions::• Metalworking: weapons and Metalworking: weapons and

tools made of metal.tools made of metal.• Development of carriages Development of carriages

(oxen and horses).(oxen and horses).• Potter’s wheel, sailing ship, Potter’s wheel, sailing ship,

plough.plough.

Social organization:Social organization:• Division of work increase.Division of work increase.• Social division increase.Social division increase.• Building of cities’ walls.Building of cities’ walls.• Birth of first kingdoms and Birth of first kingdoms and

dinasties.dinasties. BeliefsBeliefs::

• New burial customs: New burial customs: cremation (pottery pots for cremation (pottery pots for ashes)ashes)

ArtArt::• Jewelry and goldwork.Jewelry and goldwork.• Pottery(campaniform vase)Pottery(campaniform vase)• Megalithic monuments Megalithic monuments

continue being built in continue being built in Europe’s Atlantic Ocean Europe’s Atlantic Ocean facade.facade.