Living in the Stone Age

1. Living in the Stone Age

2. Examining History: Prehistory • PRE-HISTORY- period before written history • Approximately 1.75 million years ago, earliest people first began using small pieces of rock as tools • Massive development of humans over years in 4 major groups:1) Homo Habilis (2 million years ago)2) Homo Erectus (1 million years ago)3) Neanderthal (100 000 years ago) 4) Cro-Magnon (50 000 years ago)

3. Development of Humans Homo Habilis • Latin for “handy man” • Lived in eastern Africa > spread north to Asia • fossilized human bones found with stone tools and animal fossils • Skulls – humans had a flatter head with a brain only 2/3 size; approximately 1.5 m tall • Built shelters of braches and collected bird eggs and wild berries for food; hunted wild pigs • Tools / weapons = rocks, braches, sharp stones • No clothes • Did not know how to use fire Homo Erectus • Latin for “upright man” • Discoveries of “Java Man” (Indonesia) and “Peking Man” (China” • Lived in Afria, south Europe, Asia • Skulls- humans had long, flat and sharply angled at back (between ape and human head) • Thighbone- identical to modern humans > walk upright • Charred animals bones found = they used fire to cook • Belief that homo erectus was a descendant of homo habilis • Make fire= first by coals or volcanic ash; later by friction= made life easier as they could survive in colder climates • Tools / weapons= bones, rocks, blades for carving, spears Homo Sapiens • Latin for “reasoning man” • 250 000 years ago= emergence of Homo Sapiens who evolved from homo erectus • is the species to which all modern day people belong

4. Neanderthals vs Cro Magnon NEANDERATHAL • Neander Valley- Germany • 6 cm taller than homo erectus; thick eyebrow ridge • Tools= knives, spear sharpeners made from chipped rock • Animals hides worn as clothes • Lived in caves kept warm with fire • First to bury the dead (graves with bodies carefully prepared CRO MAGNON • South France- clearing away earth from back of a rock shelter locally known as Cro-Magnon • First appeared in Europe 30 000 years ago following ice age • Brain as large as modern day human; approx. 2 metres tall with modern “faces” • Tools= slim, sharp edge blades, chisels, knives, spearheads, lamps (stone bowl with animal grease and lit fur or moss) • Animals bones and teeth used to make musical instruments, jewellery • Cave paintings • Fierce warriors • Wiped out Neanderthals

5. Great Leap Forward aka The Cognitive Revolution • 35 000 years ago when changes brought about innovation, creativity to humans (Homo Sapiens Sapiens) 2 FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES OCCURRED: • Development of modern anatomy • Beginning of innovative behaviour EFFECTS • Production of crafted tools and more sophisticated weapons • development of trade for raw materials and ornaments • Emergence of sculptures, paintings and crafted objects that showcased beauty and religion

6. “Lithos” = stone Paleolithic Age • Greek “paleo” means “old” • Upper Paleolithic age was 50 000 – 10 000 years ago Neolithic Age • Greek “neo” means “new” • Neolithic Revolution occurred between 9000 – 4000 BCE

7. Comparing the Stone Ages PALEOLITHIC • small groups of 5-10 families • Nomadic to semi-nomadic • Closer relationships between bands of people ie. Cro-Magnon society NEOLITHIC • People abandoned semi-nomadic life and began farming • Agricultural revolution was a progression of the “Great Leap Forward” • planting of crops • domesticating of animals • Better tools & weapons

8. Social Structure: Paleolithic Age • closer social relationships • Social stratification= emergence of leadership and beginning of social classes • Social roles: patriarchal; men were big game hunters • women captured small game and made clothing; women & children were gatherers

9. Social Structure: Neolithic Age • Increasing knowledge = more control of food supply • End of Ice Age = better for agriculture • As population grew, so did the competition for land • Shift from semi-nomadic to permanent towns and cities (first city was Jericho, in Mesopotamia between 8000 – 7000 BCE) and more occupations • Trade by barter system (obsidian – most valued traded material traded for farm produce) • Development of hierarchical class system

10. Religion & Art in Paleolithic Age • The Paleolithic Age (Cro-Magnon) was the first to develop fine art as drawings • CAVE PAINTINGS of deer, horses and animals which are now extinct • cultural explosion in art as more tools, jewellery, and sculptures/ figurines of clay, ivory and stone emerged • More advanced spiritual practices with graves found jewellery and spears made of mammoth tusks buried with bodies = this suggests a ritual burial with a view of an afterlife

11. Caves at Lascaux [lass co] • Painting at Lascaux Caves (south central France) found in 15 000 BCE • Painters used irregularities in cave walls to add a 3-D effect to figures • Paintings portray an awe and reverence towards animals which shows that for the first time people were expressing religious beliefs (rituals related to hunting magic; sacrifices of animals)

12. Venus of Willendorf • Small sculptures such as the Venus of Willendorf were common to the Paleolithic Age • Sculpture features exaggerated curves (large breasts and wide hips) on female figure • Venus figurines are symbolic of the importance of fertility of a mother goddess

13. Weapons & Technology PALEOLITHIC • Better hunting strategies due to co-operation and more lethal weapons • Better tools for skinning game, preparing food, sewing clothes • Cro-Magnons stored food over winter showing more planning • bow and arrow around 20 000 BCE NEOLITHIC • efficient tools which helped farm and make weapons and tools • Domestication of animals to do manual work and the planting of crops freed people from the pursuit of food • leisure activities (art, music, sports, religion)

14. STONEHENGE • Stonehenge is located on Salisbury Plain in England • Created 2800-1500 BCE • Stonehenge is an example of a Neolithic megalith (megalith = Greek for “big stones”) • Exact purpose is unknown: religious rituals, agricultural markers or astronomical observatories?

15. Mystery of Stonehenge • Stonehenge was built in 3 major stages over 1300 years (tribal people, Beaker people, Battle Axe folk people • Megaliths stones approx. 45 t and Heel Stone is 31 t • Great debate over the positioning of the stones • stones reflect an understanding of astronomy and mathematics (positions reflect sunrise, eclipses of sun and moon • stones could be a religious ritual to sun or moon gods • Others believe stones were built to show changing seasons for agriculture

16. Major Innovations of the Stone Age • More complex human societies (from semi-nomadic to permanent cities; domestication of animals; leisure time) • Development of social hierarchies • Development of alliances and cooperation • Marriage customs • Development of trade goods and routes • Religious rituals • Refined sense of artistic beauty

17. ALL THESE LEAD TO THE FIRST “CIVILIZATION”