Period 1: Technological and Environmental Transformations to 600 B.C.E.

1. 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.