1. Humans Try to Control Nature

2. Early Humans First appear about 50,000 years ago
Nomads - highly mobile people who moved from place to place searching for new sources of food.
Hunter-Gatherers - nomadic groups whose food supply depends on hunting animals and collecting plant foods.

4. Early Advances in Technology and Art
40,000-15,000 BCE
Technological revolution - people used stone, bone, and wood to fashion more than 100 different tools.
Art consisted of jewelry, sculptures, and cave paintings.

7. Neolithic / Agricultural Revolution
About 10-12,000 BC, Agriculture is discovered by accident
People may have begun to notice new crops growing at regular camping spots
Shift from food-gathering to food-producing.
Causes: Change in climate (warmer = longer growing season), and population growth (forced hunter-gathers to seek out new food sources)
Farming provides a steady source of food.

8. Early Farming Method
Slash-and-burn farming - cut trees or grasses and burned them to clear a field.
The ashes would fertilize the soil.
Farmers planted crops for a year or two and then moved on to a different area.

10. Domestication of Animals
The taming of animals.
Emerged over a long period, began by driving wild animals into natural enclosures, then constructing enclosures in which to keep animals
Examples - horses, dogs, goats, and pigs.
Another consistent source of food.
Both nomads and farmers domesticated animals

11. Farming Leads to Permanent Settlements
Africa - Nile river = wheat, barley and other crops.
China - Yellow River = millet and later on wild rice.
Mexico and Central America = corn, beans and squash.
Peru = tomatoes and potatoes.
Villages grow and prosper.