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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.
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.
Humans and other creatures that walk upright on two feet.
The first Hominids, they are thought to have emerged in East Africa in the Great Rift Valley between 3-4 million years ago.
Second stage in early human development, Homo erectus, which means upright human being, emerged about 1.5 million years ago.
These were the first hominids to leave Africa and moved into Europe and Asia.
They also used more complex tools
About 250,000 years ago Homo sapiens emerged.
Homo Sapiens means “Wise Person.”
This group split into two distinct groups:
Neanderthals and Homo Sapiens Sapiens
Homo Sapiens Sapiens
Neanderthals
Found in the Neander Valley in Germany.
Thought to have lived between 100,000 and 30,000 years ago.
Used stone tools, and buried their dead. It is thought they had some primitive religious beliefs.
Were killed off by Homo Sapiens Sapiens
Modern Human Beings
Appeared in Africa between 150,000-200,000 years ago
Began to migrate outside of Africa 100,000 years ago.
Replaced the Neanderthals by 30,000 B.C..
By 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
“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.
Early ideas about religion are often called sympathetic magic.
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.
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)
Variations on Agriculture
As agriculture spread different areas began to grow different crops that were suited to their environment.
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.
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.
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.
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
