Chapter One The First Humans

Section One Early Humans

Before History Written records in many forms are very important for historians’ ability to understand the past Prehistory—is the period before writing was developed It is up to archeologists, anthropologists, and even biologists to help us understand the prehistory era

Before History Archeology—the study of past societies through an analysis of what people left behind. Examine artifacts—tools, pottery, weapons, buildings, and household items Anthropology—the study of human life and culture Use artifacts and human fossils to discover how people lived their lives QUESTION: What sorts of things would archeologists and anthropologists learn from studying artifacts and human remains?

Before History Dating Artifacts and Fossils Radio Carbon Dating Modern technology has made it much easier & accurate to determine how old bones and other once living things are Radio Carbon Dating Scientists measure the amount of radioactive carbon (C-14) emitted from a once living object Accurate up to 50,000 years old Thermoluminescence Measures the light given off by electrons trapped in soil surrounding fossils and artifacts Accurate up to 200,000 years old DNA and blood molecules can also be analyzed to give information about prehistory societies

Early Stages of Development Australopithecines (southern apes) were the earliest humanlike beings First hominids to make stone tools Discovered by Donald Johanson Lived in Africa three to four million years ago Hominids—creatures that walk upright

Early Stages of Development Homo erectus Second stage in human development 1.5 million years ago Used larger and more varied tools First to move into parts of Europe and Asia Able to deliberately make fire Homo Sapiens Wise human beings—250,000 years ago Divided into Neanderthals and Homo sapiens sapiens These two groups may have conflicted which led to the demise of the Neanderthals

Early Stages of Development Homo sapiens sapiens First group that looked like modern humans Originated in Africa between 150,000 to 200,000 years ago All humans today belong to this subgroup of Homo sapiens

The Hunter-Gatherers of the Old Stone Age Making tools is an important quality of human beings’ abilities Paleolithic Age “Old stone”—2,500,000 to 10,000 B.C. Earliest period in human history Hunted game & gathered nuts, berries, fruit, and wild grain Developed weapons like spears, bows & arrows, harpoons, and fishhooks

The Hunter-Gatherers of the Old Stone Age Nomads—people who moved from place to place Follow vegetation cycles and animal migrations 20 to 30 people lived together in groups Finding food was the most important thing they had to do! Both men and women helped to find food Men = hunting Women = gathering—had to help raise children and stay close to camp Because both helped find food they had equal social status and had to make decisions that affected their group

The Hunter-Gatherers of the Old Stone Age Technology is used to described the new things made to sustain ourselves and control our environment Stone tools were primitive technology Advances included: using harder stone (flint) to create an edge on another stone Adding a handle to a stone axe Tools are used to kill and butcher animals and cut branches for shelter

The Hunter-Gatherers of the Old Stone Age Fire became an important part of life around 500,000 years ago Warmth Safety from animals Cook food Cave paintings were an important art form for Paleolithic people Lascaux, France—huge discovery of art done between 25,000 and 12,000 B.C.

Lascaux, France Most images are of animals Paintings could be used in magical and religious rituals to call for a successful hunt

Section Two Early Civilizations

The Neolithic Revolution Began after the last Ice Age (8000 B.C) Neolithic = Greek for “new stone” Change from hunting and gathering to systematic agriculture Systematic Agriculture Planting crops Domesticating (taming) animals for food, clothing, and work Possibly the single most important event in human history

The Neolithic Revolution How does the ability to acquire food regularly help humans? Systematic agriculture spread all over the world between 8000 B.C. and 5000 B.C. Mesoamericans—inhabitants of present-day Mexico and Central America Grew beans, squash, and maize (corn)

The Neolithic Revolution Neolithic farming villages Permanent settlements made possible by systematic agriculture Jericho—Palestine Çatal Hüyük—Turkey Largest farming village

The Neolithic Revolution Relatively diverse crops were grown in Çatal Hüyük and they domesticated animals Surplus food allowed people to do work other than farming Artisans—made jewelry and weapons Established a system of trade

The Neolithic Revolution Statues of of gods and goddesses as well as shrines showed that the importance of religion was growing Seated Woman of Çatal Hüyük

The Neolithic Revolution Important changes during the Neolithic period: More complex communities Trade allows people to specialize Division of labor Basic crops are cultivated Woven cloth Roles of men and women begin to change Men take on both farming and hunting—play a more dominant role in societies Women take care of domestic tasks like weaving

The Neolithic Revolution Between 4000 and 3000 B.C. people started using metals Copper Mixed copper and tin to make bronze Bronze is more durable Bronze Age 3000 to 1200 B.C. Period when bronze was in wide spread use

The Emergence of Civilization Culture—a people’s way of life Civilization—a complex culture Characteristics of a civilization Cities Government Religion Social structures Writing Art First civilizations developed near river valleys

The Emergence of Civilization First governments were led by monarchs—kings or queens Organized armies Made laws Religions explained the workings of nature and the existence of things Priests developed to perform rituals for pleasing deities Rulers believed their power came from the divine Some rulers claimed to be divine themselves

The Emergence of Civilization Social structures were based on economic status Upper class = rulers, priests, officials, and warriors Lower class = farmers, traders, artisans, and craftspeople Lowest class = slaves and servants Writing was used for record keeping and creative expression through literature

Questions In what ways did the development of agriculture make life better or worse for Neolithic people? Why do you think so many civilizations arose in river valleys?