AP World History Early Humans
Presentation Outline:1. Evolution2. Creation myths3. Monogenesis4. Polygenesis5. Stone Age (Paleolithic)6. New Stone Age (Neolithic)
1. Evolution
• The consensus from the scientific community is that humans evolved from primates to homo sapiens (human beings) over the course of a few million years.
2.Creation myths
• Many indigenous and non-scientific communities have traditionally believed that humans were created by a God, gods, or other deities.
• Muslims, Jews, and Christians believe that God created the first man, Adam, and then from his rib created Eve.
• Can you think of other creation myths?
3. Monogenesis (Out of Africa Theory)
• Most modern scientists have concluded that humans originated in Africa and then migrated to other parts of the world.
Q: How is this evidence interpreted?
• Archaeological Evidence: “Lucy”
6
Louis & Mary Leakey
Richard Leakey,
1979
“Lucy” skeleton
Footprints in Olduvai
Gorge, eastern
Africa
4. Polygenesis
• Many racial scientists in the 19th and 20th centuries rejected the monogenesis theory and believed that each race originated in its own region or homeland.
• Why would many people choose to believe this despite little archaeological evidence?
5. Stone Age (Paleolithic period)
• 2.6 million to 10,000 B.C.E• Earliest evidence of human activity• Called the Old Stone Age
Tools Social Organization Art Religion
• Used primitive tools such as stone to carve hunting weapons, cut food, and use in art
• Organized into clans or large extended families
• Nomadic hunter and gatherers who moved to chase their food supplies
• Women and men participated equally in decision-making and shared duties
• Archaeologists have discovered cave drawings of early humans depicting hunting scenes
• Paleolithic humans buried their dead and had some belief in the afterlife, though they did not believe in any one particular god
6. New Stone Age (Neolithic period)
• 10,000 B.C.E to about 3,000 B.C.E
• Often called the New Stone Age period
• First evidence of actual human settlements
Tools Social Organization Art Religion
• More sophisticated tools could be used in farming
• Permanent settlements were built close to farming sites
• Women were no longer needed to gather food as it could now be grown
• Gender inequality emerges
• More sophisticated tools led to the creation of more sophisticated art including pottery
• Neolithic humans built monuments to their creators and gods