Paleolithic Era Ms. Carmelitano

Hominid migration and the Bering Ice Bridge During the Ice Age – a period of global cooling, water was trapped in ice caps and glaciers Creating “lands” made completely of ice Ended 14,000 B.C.E The Bering Ice Bridge spread across the northern part of North America, Asia, and Europe People migrated to the Americas over this bridge 30,000 years ago The bridge melted about 8,000 years ago

Human Species Movement Homo Sapiens migrated from Africa to Eurasia, Australia, and then the Americas Why? Brainstorm reasons why people would have moved? Following food Climate Change http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5zhBcXGKOI

Paleolithic Era Old Stone Age the period of history marked by the use of stone tools and weapons A time of invention of tools, mastery over fire, development of language Spans from2.5 million to 8000 B.C.E.

Lifestyle of Early Humans Nomadic people – highly mobile people who moved from place to place – following food and climate Hunter-Gatherer – people who travel in bands, to kill game and gather native plants

Following the Food

The Hunter-Gatherer life style The Family Early humans lived in small “clans” They could live on small amounts of food and move frequently 26-70 people Women Gathered berries and wild plants Men Hunted About seven hours every three days Children Helped both the men and women

Components of Culture Common Practices Shared Understandings Social Organizations What people eat Language Family Clothing and adornment Symbols Class and case structures Sports Religious beliefs Relationships b/w individual and community Tools and technology Values Government Social Customs The arts Economic systems Work Political beliefs View of authority

Early Culture The physical environment limited early man Dangerous animals Dark, unstable climate Early man overcame these limits through the development of culture and language Culture – the system of beliefs that help to explain the environment and set up rules for social behavior Language allowed for: Symbolic thought and expression Sharing of ideas and beliefs

Innovations to make life easier Invented tools and weapons Made of stone, bone, wood Needles to sew cloths Fire Fire enables people to cook, to see at night, to stay warm, to defend against predators

Religion Neanderthals Had the first recorded religious and burial practices Religion allowed Neanderthals to control the fear of death

So How Do We Know All of This? Written language did not develop until around 3200 BC The time before is called pre-history So what records do we have of these early people? Fossil Evidence Cave Paintings IE: Lascaux Cave Painting

Life During the Paleolithic Era