Before HistoryChapter 1

The Hominids

Australopithecus Homo Erectus Migrations of Homo Erectus

• Hominid• Walked upright• Opposable thumbs• Communicate verbally• Traveled deliberately• Tools (choppers, scrapers)

• “upright walking human”• Sophisticated tools• Created fires• Fires used for: cooking,Defense, heat• Communicate complexideas

• Increase control over Environment• Migrated to N. AfricaAnd Eurasian lands• Moved to W,E, SE &S Asia

Homo Sapiens

LanguageMigrations ofHome Sapiens

The PeoplingOf the World

The Natural Environment

• Evolved traits• Vocal chords• Mouth cavityw/ Tongue

• Adaptable• Africa, EuropeAnd Asia• Ice bridges Populated other areas

• No other animalOr plant has made itTo all habitable partsOf the world

• Homo sapiensUsed their intelligence,Sophisticated tools,And language to Exploit the naturalWorld efficiently

Paleolithic Society

Economy & Society of Hunting and Gathering PeoplesRelative Social Equality

Relative GenderEquality

Big GameHunting

Paleolithic Settlements

• Hunting andGathering preventsPrivate property• Influence startedBy: age, strength,Courage, intelligence,Fertility, force ofpersonality

• All members Contributed to Survival• Women &Children gathered• Men hunted• InterdependenceDiscourage dominance• Lived in smallBands (30-50 mem)• Systemic & efficientExploitation of environment

• Special tools• Disguises • Fires• DisturbancesTo cause a stampede

• NatufiansMediterraneanWild wheat & animals• Jomon JapanBuckwheat&fishing• ChinookNW N.AmericawildBerries, acorns, salmon

Paleolithic CultureNeanderthalPeoples

The Creativity of Homo Sapiens

Venus Figurines Cave Paintings

• Named afterNeander ValleyIn W. Germany• Some sameRegion as Homo Sapiens• Little interBreeding• Deliberate Burials & rituals• Significance of Life a death

• AchievementThrough CommunicationAbility

• Roman goddess Of love• Exaggerated sexualFeatures• Generation of newlife

• Lascaux in France• Reasons: SuccessfulHunting Expeditions, SympatheticMagic• Minerals,Plants, blood,Saliva, water,Animal fat

THE NEOLITHIC ERA AND THE TRANSITIONTO AGRICULTURE

The Origins of Agriculture

Neolithic Era Global Climate Change& Gender Relations in Agriculture

IndependentInventions inAgriculture

Early Spread ofAgriculture

• Aka “new stoneAge”• Early stagesOf agriculture• Use of stonetools

• 15000 years agoMany fluctuationsIn temp and rain• After ice ageEarth get warmer,More rain, stableClimate• Neolithic peopleTook advantage byGrowing plants & Domestication• Women: nurturedPlants and collectedMen: hunted & dome-sticated

• 1st signs of Agriculture in Different areas:9000bce-SW Asia• 9000-7000bce-SE Africanin Sahara• 8000-6000bce-SW Africa• 6500bce-E. Asia• 4000bce-Meso-America• 3000bce-S. America

• AgricultureSpread fast dueTo methods• Slash andBurn cultivation• Method helpedTo spread cultivation• Foods in oneArea only wereSpread to others(ex. Wheat• AgricultureWas physically demanding

Early Agricultural Society

Emergence of Villages & TownsAnd Spec. of Labor

Pottery andMetalworking

Textile Production

Social Distinctions& Social Inequality

• Settled near fieldsIn villages• Jericho-earliestKnown village• Many people,surplus of foodMeant new jobs• Catal Huyuk-Neolithic townSuggesting spec. ofLabor• Ex. Clay pots, Baskets, metal tools,textiles

• Store surplus foods• Dry or liquid Products• Artistic expression& practical utensil• Copper-earliest metalHumans used• Jewelry & simple tools• Smelted copper madeOther tools (ex. KnivesAxes, hoes)• Metallurgical foundation

• SelectiveBreeding led toBetter fibers• Woman’s jobWhile caringFor the children

• 1st time peopleCan accumulate Wealth• Barter system• DevelopmentOf privateProperty• land=wealth=Power• Social classesemerged

Neolithic CultureReligious Values

• Dependence on Agriculture led to knowledgeOf the moon and stars• Agricultural people learned the seasons throughThe position of the sun, moon and stars• 1st steps toward a calendar• Neolithic religion reflected it reliance on the earth• Celebrated ideas of birth, growth, death & regeneration• Ex. Butterflies and frogs

The Origins of Urban LifeEmergence of Cities

• Development of Cities was gradual• Differed from villages and towns in2 ways:

1) more complex (spec. of labor, more population, more professionals, professional managers [governors, tax collectors, military strategist], priests)2) influenced political , economic and cultural life of larger regions (attracted buyers and sellers of different regions), extended claims of authority, were able to spreadtheir culture and traditions