Big Geography & the Peopling of the Earth

AP World History Key Concept 1.1

Technological and Environmental Transformations, to c. 600 B.C.E.

Key Concepts

Each key concept is designed to allow learners to identify patterns that can be used in further studies of world history.

Questions

The questions are written from the key concepts. They are designed to start the inquiry process that guides our evidence collection, interpretation, and organization.

Please do not limit yourself to these questions. If they raise more questions, write those down and investigate.

Big Geography & the Peopling of the Earth

During the Paleolithic Era (pre-10,000 BCE) hunter-gatherers gradually migrated from East Africa to Eurasia, Australia and the Americas, adapting their technology and cultures.

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Questions

■ What evidence do we have that explains the earliest history of humans?

■ How is this evidence interpreted?■ Where did humans first appear on Earth? ■ What were the characteristics of their society,

religion, technology, economy and culture?■ How did the earliest humans procure enough

supplies to survive?

“Out of Africa” migrations Theory based on Archeological Evidence

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Archaeological Evidence:

“Lucy” skeleton

Footprints in Olduvai

Gorge, eastern

Africa

Louis and Mary Leakey’s findings at Olduvai Gorge convinced the world that humans came from Africa.

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Characteristics of Early Societies

● Little if any social classes ○ no possessions to distinguish

rich/poor, powerful/weak● Egalitarian (equal but not

identical work & value of both genders’ contributions)○ Men probably hunted, women

foraged/gathered.● Small bands/communities

(30-50 people)

How do we know?

The San of the Kalahari Desert, Africa

early humans

Characteristics: Religion

Most likely animistic.

Characteristics: Technology

● Stone Tools/Weapons○ Specially adapted to different environments.

■ What works in the tropics won’t in the tundra!

Characteristics: Technology

● Stone Tools/Weapons (no wheel yet!)

● Fire○ Useful in slash & burn

agriculture○ Protection against

animals○ Keeping warm in cold

climates○ Food Click or touch for article

Characteristics: Economy

● Small kinship groups of 30-50 people.○ Some were self-sufficient, others to

exchange to survive● Trade, including …

○ People○ Goods○ Ideas

Limited range of contact with other groups

Characteristics: Culture

Knowledge passed generation to generation leads to greater complexity.

How do environmental pressures influence the development of culture?

Characteristics: Survival

● Cultural adaptation to new environments

● Cooperation and capacity to look beyond the surface at an early age.

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We can ask and answer this question really well.What are the implications?

How did you do?

■ What evidence do we have that explains the earliest history of humans?

■ How is this evidence interpreted?■ Where did humans first appear on Earth? ■ What were the characteristics of their society,

religion, technology, economy and culture?■ How did the earliest humans procure enough

supplies to survive?

Brought to you by ...

Special thanks to Bill Strickland, Mr. Freeman, Mr. Millhouse

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