Early Humans http://ramonadesignstudio.com/spacesImgs/prehistory03_small.jpg

while anthropologists study artifacts and human fossils. I. Before History http://thewere42.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/6a00d8341bf7f753ef0115702a128e970c-500wi.jpg To learn about prehistory and how early people lived, archaeologists collect and study artifacts, while anthropologists study artifacts and human fossils.

Prehistory is the period of human history before writing was developed. http://geopolicraticus.files.wordpress.com/2008/11/prehistory.jpg

Archaeology is study of past societies through items they left behind - Artifacts are the tools, pottery, paintings, weapons, buildings, and household items used by people of the past http://www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk/img/Excavation.jpg

Anthropology is the study of human life and culture - Fossils are the remains of organic life forms http://anthropologynet.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/kennewick-man.jpg

II. Early Humans

There are many species of early humans; however, we will start with… Homo sapiens emerged 200,000 years ago, had rapid brain growth, and mastered the use of fire. Two types of hominids descended from homo sapiens: Neanderthals and Homo sapiens sapiens http://www.primates.com/homo/homo-sapiens.jpg

Neandethals lived between 100,000 BC (BCE) and 30,000 BC (BCE) http://kennedy121.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/664684.jpg Neandethals lived between 100,000 BC (BCE) and 30,000 BC (BCE) They used stone tools, wore clothes, and buried their dead. http://idology.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/neanderthal1.jpg

Today all humans are descendents of homo sapiens sapiens Homo sapiens sapiens appeared in Africa between 150,000 and 200,000 years ago, spreading to other parts of the world and replacing other types of hominids about 100,000 years ago (“out-of-Africa” theory) Today all humans are descendents of homo sapiens sapiens

III. The Paleolithic Age (Old Stone Age) Lasted from about 2,500,000 B.C. to 10,000 B.C. http://www.aasd.k12.wi.us/staff/boldtkatherine/images/stoneage.jpg During this time period, humans used stone tools to assist in hunting and gathering food.

These humans were nomads, meaning they moved from place to place in search of food. Many people lived in caves, but they also created shelters made of wood or animal hide. http://www.throneworld.com/lords/lote04/images/pleistocene/primitive2.jpg They used fire to stay warm, scare off predators, and cook food.

They created art such as the cave paintings in Lascaux and Chauvet, France and Altamira, Spain. http://www.sacred-sites.org/preservation/2008award/LascauxPhotos/lascauxmain.jpg

The Neolithic Revolution Image: http://www.markbwilson.com/album/1-Mediterranean%20World/slides/2a-Neolithic%20Agricultural%20Revolution%20Sites.html

I. The Neolithic Revolution (The New Stone Age) The Neolithic Age took place between 8000 B.C. and 4000 B.C. http://propertyz.org/img/agriculture1.jpg After the last Ice Age, people began to practice systematic agriculture (planting and growing of food on a regular basis) and domestication (keeping animals as resources).

Domestication of Plants & Animals Farming in ancient Egypt According to the site, Teaching the Middle East, “Once people had developed a village farming system based on both domesticated plants and animals, the Neolithic economy spread across the Middle East…” In other words…[put this into your own words] Farming in ancient Egypt Source: http://www.experience-ancient-egypt.com/egyptian-farming.html

Additionally, “Forests of oak and pistachio spread widely along the eastern Mediterranean coast, while further inland, the grassland steppes filled with gazelles, deer, wild cattle, wild goats, and onagers (wild donkeys). The coastal zone was the richest environment, supporting abundant game and wild cereals, such as wheat and barley…The main animals domesticated in the…period [from 7500-6000 BCE] were sheep, goats, cattle, and pigs. The earliest solid evidence for animal domestication comes from western Iran, at sites such as Ali Kosh…” Based on this information, you can deduce (determine)…

Agriculture & Development of Religion “[These peoples] provide our best evidence for the development of new religious beliefs across the Levant. At Jericho and other sites, archaeologists found plastered skulls buried in pits beneath the house floors. After the bodies had decomposed, the skulls were removed, plastered, and were molded with noses, ears, and shells for eyes. The skulls were then reburied, and periodically removed for use in religious rituals…Agriculturalists often have a high sense of territoriality, since the land they farm is their single most important resource. They justify their access to and control over this land through an ancestor cult.” How did farming lead to the development of religion? Source: http://teachmiddleeast.lib.uchicago.edu/foundations/origins-of-civilization/essay/essay-02.html

Because people no longer had to travel for food, some now had time to become artisans, people who make items such as weapons or jewelry. Between 4000 B.C. and 3000 B.C., people began using metals, first copper, then bronze, then iron.

II. Civilization Emerges Neolithic settlements developed from villages with simple cultures (way of life) into large civilizations (complex cultures in which people share things in common) http://www.cchs.ccsd.k12.co.us/academics/class_projects/Ancient%20Civ/Images/world-map.jpg

Historians have identified six characteristics of civilization: 1. Cities 2. Government 3. Religion 4. Social structure 5. Writing 6. Art

Putting it all together… Explain how the migration of early humans altered (changed) human history. #K8 What was the Neolithic Revolution? #K7 Why is it considered one of the most important events in human history? #K7 What characteristics must a civilization have in order to be considered a civilization? Can you think of any exceptions to this rule?