Maps and Images for World History Chapter 1 Emergence of Human Communities

Chauvet Cave Chauvet Cave On December 18, 1994, this cave in southern France was discovered by Jean-Marie Chauvet, a French official. It contains the oldest and best preserved prehistoric cave paintings; more than three hundred paintings were found of animals that inhabited the Stone Age world, including panthers, cave bears, and mammoths. This black-painted panel in the Chauvet Cave shows horses, rhinoceroses, and wild oxen. (Jean Clottes/Ministere de la Culture)

Fossilized Footprints Archaeologist Mary Leakey (shown at top of photo) found these remarkable footprints of a hominid adult and child at Laetoli, Tanzania. The pair had walked through fresh volcanic ash that solidified after being buried by a new volcanic eruption. Dated to 3.5 million years ago, the footprints are the oldest evidence of bipedalism yet found. (SPL/Photo Researchers, Inc.)

Neolithic Goddess Neolithic Goddess Many versions of a well-nourished pregnant female figure were found in the Neolithic ruins of Catal Huyuk, a large town in central Anatolia (modern Turkey). Here she is supported by twin leopards whose tails curve over her shoulders. To those who inhabited the city this figure likely represented fertility and power over nature. (C.M. Dixon)

Neolithic Pottery Figure Over the course of the fifth to third millennia B.C.E., many distinct regional Neolithic cultures emerged in China. For instance, in the northwest people made fine pottery vessels decorated in black pigment with bold designs, including spirals, sawtooth lines, and zoomorphic stick figures. Some scholars speculate that this image depicts a shaman wearing face paint. Note the snake depicted climbing the back of its head. ((c) Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities)

Neolithic Pottery Figure Over the course of the fifth to third millennia B.C.E., many distinct regional Neolithic cultures emerged in China. For instance, in the northwest people made fine pottery vessels decorated in black pigment with bold designs, including spirals, sawtooth lines, and zoomorphic stick figures. Some scholars speculate that this image depicts a shaman wearing face paint. Note the snake depicted climbing the back of its head. ((c) Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities)

Saharan Rock Art Saharan Rock Art An unknown artist painted the dynamic scene of giraffes on a Saharan rock in what is now Libya in 5000 B.C.E. This was from a rainy era when hunters could view majestic herds of game. (Robert Estall Photography)

Centers of Plant and Animal Domestication Many different parts of the world made original contributions to domestication during the agricultural revolutions that began about 10,000 years ago. Later interactions helped spread these domesticated animals and plants to new locations. In lands less suitable for crop cultivation, pastoralism and hunting predominated.

Human Dispersal to 10,000 Years Ago Human Dispersal to 10,000 Years Ago Early migrations from Africa into southern Eurasia were followed by treks across land bridges during cold spells, when giant ice sheets had lowered ocean levels. Boats may also have been employed.