What is “History?” “ Peoples’ stories collectively, comparatively, selectively told.” Traditions and Encounters “the present is the past rolled up for action, and the past is the present unrolled for understanding” (Will Durant)

Tools of the Historian Documents Documents – Sacred history – myths, oral accounts – Archaeological discovery – fossils, artifacts – Written records- “recorded” (History) – Scientific theory and evidence—evolution, DNA and Carbon 14 Human presence (or “natural” history) – living communities, like the Kung Human presence (or “natural” history) – living communities, like the Kung

Tools of the Historian Time Time –Chronology Cyclical vs. Linear Cyclical vs. Linear BCE (Before the Common Era) – CE (Common Era) BCE (Before the Common Era) – CE (Common Era) –Periodization (Prehistory/History) Categories of Time – Paleolithic, Neolithic Categories of Time – Paleolithic, Neolithic Place – Geography and Maps Place – Geography and Maps Mercator Projection Mercator Projection Peters Projection-T&E Peters Projection-T&E

MAPS Can the way we picture the world convey meaning—can it be propaganda?

“it is clear that what happens on and near Earth at the beginning of the second cosmic year will depend very much on the scientific wisdom and the distinctively human sensitivity of mankind” Carl Sagan, The Dragons of Eden

The Question of Progress “There is no one inevitable path to today’s world because it is impossible to characterize today’s world simplistically. There always was and is considerable variety among human societies—though this may be decreasing, it is still there.” “There is no one inevitable path to today’s world because it is impossible to characterize today’s world simplistically. There always was and is considerable variety among human societies—though this may be decreasing, it is still there.” Agree or disagree? Agree or disagree?

Cover Slide Objective I: The Emergence of Human Communities Focus Questions: What made humans human? What can we learn from hunting- gathering societies? Why agriculture?

5-6 million years ago ,000 yrs.ago 125,000 yrs. ago Gorilla

What does it mean to be human? Genetically, humans are 97% the same as chimpanzees, 96% the same as gorillas Genetically, humans are 97% the same as chimpanzees, 96% the same as gorillas Physical traits: bipedal, opposable thumbs, larger brains Physical traits: bipedal, opposable thumbs, larger brains Intelligence Intelligence Social and cultural developments Social and cultural developments Relationship to our environment Relationship to our environment Hominid = “human-like species”

Fossilized footprints Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. 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.) What Made Humans Human? Hominid Evolution: Three Developments- -Bipedalism -Larger Brain -Voicebox LUCY

Well, if it isn’t the dawn of civilization! “What about your precious opposable thumbs now!?”

Perspective I: Human Biological Evolution LUCY NEANDERTAL URUMCHI MUMMY

MIGRATIONS Out of Africa Out of Africa “We are all Africans under the skin.” “We are all Africans under the skin.” New York Times Headline: Skull Supports Theory of Human Migration By JOHN NOBLE WILFORDJOHN NOBLE WILFORD Published: January 12, 2007 “The migrants appeared to have arrived at their new homes in Asia and Europe with the distinct and unmodified heads of Africans.” 36,000 years old

Global spread of hominids and Homo Sapiens

Why is homo sapiens the only species of human today? “The only good caveman is a dead caveman” – aggression and war “Make love not war” – reproductive and family units “We ate them out of house and home” – competition for available resources “Together, wherever we go” – co-evolution of language with know-how and sociability.

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) Saharan rock art Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. “Sympathetic Magic”

What is the Paleolithic Era? “Old Stone Age” “Old Stone Age” From the first hominid to approximately 7000 BCE From the first hominid to approximately 7000 BCE

Characteristics of Paleolithic (Old Stone Age) Societies Hunting and gathering (nomadic) Hunting and gathering (nomadic) Isolation (Small bands) Isolation (Small bands) Solidarity, equality and communalism Solidarity, equality and communalism Gender roles Gender roles Limited specialization Limited specialization Early religion: animism—worship of humans and nature Early religion: animism—worship of humans and nature

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) Chauvet Cave Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Kung People

Humorous takes on Paleolithic life…

Role of Women What roles did women play? What roles did women play? Equality? Equality?

Mother Earth

“I still don’t see what harm could come from allowing males to possess weapons.”

Why Agricultural Revolutions? “History followed different courses for different people because of differences among peoples’ environments, not their biology.” Jared Diamond Myths about Farming The first farmers made a conscious decision to grow crops. The first farmers made a conscious decision to grow crops. There is a sharp break between nomadic hunting-gathering and farming. There is a sharp break between nomadic hunting-gathering and farming. Food producers manage the land more actively than hunter-gatherers. Food producers manage the land more actively than hunter-gatherers.

Why the Agricultural Transition? The decline in the availability of wild foods. The increase in the availability of domesticable wild plants. The cumulative development of technologies on which farming depends. The two-way link between rise in human population and rise in food production. The greater advantages of farmers in the competition for resources with hunter-gatherers. “Agriculture is the great dividing line in human behavior” – Why?

Domesticated Plants There are 200,000 wild species There are 200,000 wild species 12 domesticated plants account for 80% of the tonnage of all crops 12 domesticated plants account for 80% of the tonnage of all crops Cereals: wheat, corn, barley, rice, sorghum Cereals: wheat, corn, barley, rice, sorghum Pulses: soybean Pulses: soybean Tubers: potato, manioc, sweet potato Tubers: potato, manioc, sweet potato Fruit: banana Fruit: banana

Domesticated Animals 14 large mammals out of 148 possibilities! 14 large mammals out of 148 possibilities! Big 5: Sheep, cow, goat Big 5: Sheep, cow, goat Pig, horse Camels, alpacas, llama Camels, alpacas, llama Donkey, reindeer, Donkey, reindeer, Water buffalo, yak, Bali cattle and ox Water buffalo, yak, Bali cattle and ox

Origins and early spread of agriculture and pastoralism

Characteristics of Neolithic Societies (New Stone Age) How many of these are the result of dependence on agriculture? Domestication of plants and animals required a sedentary existence. Domestication of plants and animals required a sedentary existence. Population increases. Population increases. Food surpluses Food surpluses New Technology New Technology Specialization of occupations Specialization of occupations New social institutions: New social institutions: The neolithic village The neolithic village The nomadic clan-tribe The nomadic clan-tribe Nomad-sedentary Conflict Nomad-sedentary Conflict Cities Cities

Most agricultural civilizations were patriarchal Common attributes: Men dominate(d) economic, political, and social life Men dominate(d) economic, political, and social life Men controll(ed) property and made all decisions concerning families—including marriage of children Men controll(ed) property and made all decisions concerning families—including marriage of children Marriage and inheritance were patrilineal Marriage and inheritance were patrilineal

Pottery and Textiles

New Religious Beliefs – Fertility Cults, the “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 goddess Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. New Religious Beliefs – Fertility Cults, the “Goddess” New attitudes towards Nature

Agriculture is NEW! The first hominids appeared 4 million years ago The first hominids appeared 4 million years ago People discovered agriculture only 9 thousand years ago People discovered agriculture only 9 thousand years ago 95 % of the time humans have inhabited the earth, we have been hunter/gatherers 95 % of the time humans have inhabited the earth, we have been hunter/gatherers