Ancient Civilizations Ch. 1-1 Prehistory-300 B.C. Understanding Our Past

About 5,000 years ago, people started keeping written records. The invention and use of writing began recorded history. Everything before written history is known as prehistory.

Written Language

Studying the Historical Past Historians study and write about the historical past. Learn from artifacts, which are objects made by humans. –Also use written language, word of mouth, and photographs/films. Historians can be bias, depending on their experiences.

Investigating Prehistory About 150 years ago, study began on the period of prehistory. The goal was to learn the origins and development of people and their societies. We call this anthropology

Anthropology Some study bones, to understand changes in physical traits. Some focus on culture, or the way of life of a society (beliefs, values, and practices).

Anthropologists

Archaeology Specialized branch of anthropology. Study of people and cultures through their material remains (tools, weapons, pottery, clothing, and jewelry). Helps draw conclusions about the beliefs, values, and activities of our ancestors.

Artifacts

Archaeologists at Work Find a likely location and begin to dig. The further they dig, the older the artifacts. Geologists help determine age by the age of rocks. Zoologists and botanists also help by determining the age of animal bones and seeds. New technology such as computers and radioactivity testing are used.

Discoveries in Africa and Beyond Before the 1950s, we knew little about early humans. Early groups did not have cities, countries, organized central governments, or complex inventions.

Ancient Clues Found in East Africa In the 1930s, Mary Leakey and Louis Leakey started searching the Olduvai Gorge. Bottom Layers thought to be million years old. Found tools chipped from stones. Showed technology, skills and tools people use to meet their basic needs and wants.

Ancient Clues Continued In 1959, Mary Leakey found a skull of a hominid. Hominids walk upright on two feet. Humans are the only hominids living today. In 1974, Donald Johanson found pieces of a hominid skeleton from at least 3 million years ago.

Ancient Clues Continued Donald Johanson had enough pieces of the skeleton to put it together. He named his find “Lucy”. She was an upright walker who was about 4 feet tall.

“Lucy”

Evidence of Early Hominid Groups Earliest group is the australopithecines –All lived in Africa –7 million years ago Homo Habilis “handy man” –Possibly first to make and use tools –2 million years ago Homo erectus “upright man” –Found in Asia and Europe –2 million years ago –Fully upright walker –Made axes, used fire –Had bigger brains and smaller teeth

Hominids

First Finds of Humans Around the World Homo erectus disappeared –250, ,000 years ago Homo sapiens arrive –Some say they came from Africa –Others think they developed from Homo erectus –Believed two groups developed Neanderthals gone between 50,000-30,000 years ago Early modern humans