1. Paleolithic Era
Ms. Carmelitano

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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.

5. 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

6. Following the Food

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

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

12. So How Do We Know All of This?
Written language did not develop until around 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

13. Life During the Paleolithic Era