The First Humans Prehistory to 3500 BC World History

Archaeology Archaeology is the study of past societies through an analysis of what people have left behind them. Archaeologists dig up and analyze artifacts.

Archaeologists & Anthropologists Archaeologists are the experts who use these artifacts and the remains of humans – human fossils – to determine how people lived their lives. Anthropologists often work in conjunction with archaeologists to determine how people lived and what extinct cultures were like. Modern-day anthropologists also study existing societies, sometimes by immersing themselves in another culture.

Radiocarbon Dating Used by archaeologists to determine the ages of artifacts and fossils. It is a method of analysis that calculates the ages of objects by measuring the amount of C-14 (Carbon) left in an object. This type of dating is appropriate for objects that are no more than 50,000 years old.

Thermoluminescence Dates an object by measuring the light given off by electrons trapped in the soil surrounding fossils and artifacts. This method of dating objects enables scientists to make relatively precise measurements back to about 200,000 years ago.

Early Man: Australopithecus Hominids or Australopithecines are the earliest humanlike creatures that flourished in Africa. They were the first to use simple tools. They lived 5,000,000 to 1,000,000 years ago. Australopithecus skull. Note the slope of the face and back of the skull. Areas in Africa where early man has been found.

Homo Habilis 2.5 million years ago, another humanlike being evolved. Called Homo Habilis, these people developed their own tools. Homo Habilis skull. Note the prominent brow ridges; the skull is not as sloped as Australopithecus.

Homo Erectus According to evolutionary theory, hominids developed into Homo Erectus around 1.5 million years ago. They were the first to leave Africa and spread into Europe and Asia. They were also the first “upright” human being (hence the name “erectus”. They also learned how to use fire, which gave them more control over their lives and environment. The use of fire was important when the Ice Ages began around 100,000 BC and didn’t end until 8,000 BC.

The Spread of Homo Erectus Green areas represent the spread of Homo Erectus; Red Dots are areas where fossils have been recovered.

Then, 250,000 years ago, a new species called Homo Sapiens (wise human beings) developed.

Homo Sapiens Neanderthals were just one type of Homo Sapiens

Homo Sapiens Sapiens The first anatomically modern humans, known as Homo sapiens sapiens, appeared in Africa between 150,000 and 200,000 years ago. Anatomically means they had bodies similar to modern man.

By 10,000 B.C. members of Homo sapiens sapiens were located all over the world.

Paleolithic Age: 2,500,000 to 10,000 B.C. Humans used simple stone tools and were hunters and gatherers. Paleolithic Age means “stone age”

Neolithic Age: 10,000 B.C. – 4,000 B.C. This is the period of the agricultural revolution. Hunting and gathering was replaced by the keeping of animals and growing food on a regular basis. Fertile Crescent

Agricultural Revolution The growing of crops on a regular basis made possible the support of larger populations and gave rise to more permanent settlements.

Catal Huyuk Neolithic farming villages were the emergence of larger civilizations. Catal Huyuk, in modern-day Anatolia (Turkey), was one of the first known settlements. From 7,500 B.C., it is a large settlement with individual houses.

Neolithic Settlements In the Fertile Crescent

Domestication To domesticate something is to tame it, or bring it under human control. This can apply to both plants and animals. The domestication of plants and animals may have been the single most revolutionary event in human history. Domesticating plants and animals was responsible for an increase in the human life span, the creation of cities…

…and the formulation of laws and government …and the formulation of laws and government. It leads to systems of writing, the development of mathematics and science, as well as the establishment of the world’s major religions.

Spread of Agriculture

Beginnings of Civilization Once humans began to work cooperatively to grow food, they needed to establish rules for sharing water and dividing crops. They also created a system for establishing and enforcing laws. All of this was the result of the planting of the first seed.

Spread of Civilization

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