1. Discovery of Early Humans in Africa
Unit 1 Notes

2. Early Humans
Existence of human beings and human like creatures (hominids) traced back to 4.4 million years ago
Radiocarbon dating is used to date once living things
DNA used to track changes over time

3. Prehistoric Finds in Africa
1992 – hominid teeth found in Ethiopia
– remains of 17 individuals around 4.4 million years old (65 lbs and 4 feet tall in Africa)
1974 – “Lucy” discovered (a 3.2 million year old skeleton) in Africa

4. First Hominids Australopithecus or “southern ape” (4.4 million yrs.)
3½ -5 feet tall
Walked on two legs
Nomadic
Lived in groups in eastern and southern Africa
Ate fish, fruit, nuts, leaves, & meat from scavenging

5. Hominid Groups
The group Homo, which means “human” is divided into 3 groups
Homo habilis – “person with ability” million years ago
Homo erectus - “person who walks upright” – 1.8 million to 30,000 years ago
Homo sapiens - “person who thinks” is from 100,000 to 200,000 years ago.

6. Major Developments Ice Age created land bridges Toolmaking
Homo habilis developed larger brain
Homo erectus – males became hunters; began using fire & clothing
Migrations
Language – allowed individuals to work as a group & pass on knowledge to children

7. Homo Sapiens Neanderthals were the first Homo Sapiens 5.5 feet tall
Larger brains
Nomadic hunter-gatherers; used fire
Stocky, thick bones, muscular necks & shoulders (helped them adapt to cold weather)

8. Homo Sapiens Sapiens Modern humans who originated in Eastern Africa
Came into contact with Neanderthals & Homo Erectus; were the only ones left after awhile
Earliest –
Cro-Magnon

9. Cro-Magnon Man
Improved tool making technology (hammers, hoes, pincers, fish hooks, stone axe, etc.)
Increased food supply
New weapons – spear, bow & arrow
Lived in communities
Artwork in caves

10. Stone Ages, Etc. Paleolithic – 2.5 million to 12,000 B.C.
(Old Stone Age)
Mesolithic – 12,000 to 8,000 B.C.
(Middle Stone Age)
Neolithic – 8,000 B.C. to 5,000 B.C.
(New Stone Age)
Bronze – circa 4,000 B.C. to 1,500 B.C.
Iron Age – circa 1,500 to 550 B.C

11. The Development of Agriculture - Causes
The Last Ice Age ended
Meat spoiled quickly
In warm weather
Large game animals died out
Food became scarce
People relied on more plant foods for survival
Development of Agriculture: People began to plant seeds and to live in permanent settlements to protect their crops
People began to domesticate animals

12. The Development of Agriculture Effects
Farming settlements grew
Into villages
Villages practiced division of labor, enabling some workers to specialize in useful crafts and develop new technology
Productivity rose
People acquired more goods; the idea of private property started
Life was made more easier and comfortable
Demand for goods led to an increase in trade

13. Warfare from competition for land & water
Neolithic Revolution – shift from hunting and gathering to own production of food (agriculture) – 8000 B.C.
Domestication of animals and grains
Rise of villages dependent on agriculture (Jericho, Israel and Catal Hüyük, Turkey are a few of the earliest)
Technological advances – the loom for weaving, bricks for building, & advanced metalwork
Warfare from competition for land & water