1. Hominids, Paleolithic Society, and Neolithic Society
Period 1: Technological and Environmental Transformations to 600 B.C.E.
Hominids, Paleolithic Society, and Neolithic Society

2. Key Concepts 1.1 – Big Geography and the Peopling of the Earth
1.2 – The Neolithic Revolution and Early Agricultural Societies
1.3 – The Development and Interactions of Early Agricultural, Pastoral, and Urban Societies

3. My How We’ve Changed… First Humans: Lucy 3 ft 5 in 55 lbs
3.5 Million Years Old
Ethiopia
Oldest Skeleton ever found.

4. Key Difference b/t Humans and Animals in History
Animals – Adapt to environment to meet the demands of the environment
Humans – Adapt the environment to meet the demands of humans

5. The Hominids Hominids – Include human and human like species.
Australopithecus – Short, hairy, upright, limited in intelligence, opposable thumbs.
Lived in eastern and southern Africa
Phased out by about one million years ago.
Many remains found in Africa

6. The Hominids Homo Erectus – “Upright-walking human.”
Flourished from 2.5 million – 200,000 years ago.
Larger brain, more intelligent.
Fire
Tools: Axes, cleavers
Language
Migrated – North Africa, Eurasian landmass

7. Homo Sapiens Homo Sapiens – “Consciously thinking human”
200,000 years ago
Possessed higher levels of intelligence and communication allowing them to adapt (i.e. – created clothing for cold weather, complex weapons)
Intelligence allowed movement – Africa, Europe, Asia, Indonesia, New Guinea, Australia, Siberia, Alaska, North America

8. Paleolithic Society Paleolithic Era – The Old Stone Age
Start: First Hominids
End: Twelve Thousand Years Ago
Key Characteristic – Human beings foraged for their food.
Hunted wild animals or gather edible products from naturally growing plants

9. Paleolithic Society Relative Social Equality Hunter Gatherers
Meant they followed prey and moved with seasons
Lived in small groups
Resulted in no private ownership and relative equality
Areas where food was especially rich sometimes meant abandonment of hunter gatherer lifestyle in exchange for permanent settlements.
i.e.- Chinooks of the Pacific Northwest

10. Paleolithic Culture Paleolithic Culture – Evidence of reflection
Complex Burials (Neandertal people)
Creative Achievements
Cro-Magnon People
Very similar to modern humans – Intelligence, Communication, Appearance
Harpoons, Bows and Arrows
Jewelry
Furniture
Venus Figurines (p. 17)
Cave Paintings (p. 18)

11. The Neolithic Era The Neolithic Era – “The New Stone Age.”
Refers to the early stages of agricultural society.
Involved the systematic cultivation of crops and domestication of animals.
Meant phasing out of the hunter-gatherer lifestyle
12,000-6,000 years ago
Slow and gradual process

12. Neolithic Era Early Agricultural Society
Increased food supply lead to huge population increase (p. 24)
Villages and towns sprung up (Jericho and Catal Huyuk)
Lead to specialization of labor
Metalworking, pottery, and textile production

13. The Neolithic Era Social Distinctions
First time people had opportunity to accumulate wealth
Due to specialization of labor and increased value of land
Class System developed as a result (first time for rich and poor)

14. The Neolithic Era Neolithic Culture
Accumulated working knowledge of the earth’s rhythms and passed them on
Religious beliefs in multiple gods associated with multiple things:
Death, fertility, etc.

15. The Neolithic Era Emergence of cities
Dense populations, specialized labor, and complex social relationships created by agriculture eventually gave rise to cities.
Larger and more complex than villages
Specialization – Tax Collectors, military strategists, governors, etc.
Influenced the political, cultural, and economic life of larger regions around the world.