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Chapter 1

Chapter 1. Early Humans. Prehistory. Historians rely mostly on documents to interpret the past During a period known as prehistory no writing system was developed. Archaeology & Anthropology . The story of early humans relies heavily on archaeology and anthropology.

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Chapter 1

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  1. Chapter 1 Early Humans

  2. Prehistory • Historians rely mostly on documents to interpret the past • During a period known as prehistory no writing system was developed

  3. Archaeology & Anthropology • The story of early humans relies heavily on archaeology and anthropology. • Archaeology- the study of past societies through an analysis of what people left behind • Anthropology- the study of human life and culture Both rely on artifacts and fossils to how early humans functioned

  4. Question! • How do archaeologist and anthropologists know how old those artifacts and fossils are? • Answer: Radiocarbon dating, thermoluminescence, and the study of organic remains

  5. Radiocarbon Dating • All living things absorb a small of radioactive carbon (C-14) • Scientist use this knowledge to determine how old an object is by measuring the amount of C-14 left in it • Works for objects no more than 50,000 years old

  6. Thermoluminescence • This method of analysis dates an object by measuring the light given off by electrons trapped in the soil surrounding fossils and artifacts • Relatively accurate for objects back to 200,000 years old

  7. Early Stages of Development Hominids to Homo Sapiens

  8. Hominids • The earliest humanlike creatures lived in Africa 3-4 million years ago • They were the first hominids (humans and other creatures that walk upright) to make simple tools

  9. Homo Erectus • A second stage in early human development was Homo erectus( upright human being) • Homo erectus made use of larger and more varied tools. • They were the first to leave Africa and move into Europe and Asia • They were also the first to use…….

  10. Homo Sapiens • Homo Sapiens means “wise human being” and was two distinct subgroups: • Neanderthals • Relied on a variety of stone tools and seem to be the first to bury their dead which shows a belief in an afterlife • Homo sapiens sapiens • These were the first people that looked like modern man All humans today belong to the same subspecies of human being

  11. The Hunter-Gatherers of the Old Stone Age

  12. The Paleolithic Age • The term Paleolithic Age(2,500,00 -10,000 BCE) is Greek for “Old Stone” • Humans in this time period relied on hunting and gathering for their daily food

  13. The Paleolithic Age • These people were nomads (people who moved from place to place) because they had to follow the migration patterns of the animals they hunted. • Nomads lived in small groups of 20-30 people that demanded group effort for any real chance of success and survival

  14. Nomadic Society • Since women bore and raised children, it is likely that their contribution to the table came from gathering nuts and berries near their camps • Main needs of these people consisted of food, shelter, and water. • Caves provided natural protection from the elements • Eventually new types of shelter developed resembling tee-pees seen in the Native American culture

  15. Art • A great way to get into the mind set of any group of people in the past is to look at what they created and left behind. • This applies even to early humans, though they lacked a writing system. • Cave drawings served as a way of communication and usually depicted herds of animals and resources

  16. Review! • How do archaeologists and anthropologist determine the ages of fossils and artifacts? • What are the three stages of early human development? • What are the two subgroups of Homo sapiens? • Why were early humans nomads?

  17. The Neolithic Revolution Rise of Civilization

  18. Overview • The Neolithic Revolutiontook place from 10,000 to 4000 BCE. • Neolithic means “new stone” in Greek • The REAL change during this era was a shift from the hunter-gather society to systematic agricultureand the domestication of animals.

  19. Overview continued • The ability to acquire food on a regular basis gave humans greater control over their environment and allowed them to live in settled communities

  20. Civilization Equation

  21. Equation: • Agricultural Revolution Advanced Technology Surplus Specialization of Skills Civilization!!! Civilization Triangle

  22. Equation: Social Impact • Food surpluses made it possible for people to do things other than farming • Some became artisans which produced products like jewelry and weapons

  23. Equation: Social Impact • The change to systematic agriculture also effected the equality of men and women • As men took on more and more of the responsibility for obtaining food and protecting the settlement, they came to play a more dominant role in society.

  24. The Bronze Age

  25. Stone to Metal • The use of metals marked a new level of human control over the environment and its resources • Copper was the first metal to be used in making tools • After 4000 BCE, Asian craftsmen discovered that a combination of copper and tin yielded a stronger metal….Bronze

  26. Dawning of Bronze • The widespread use of bronze has led historians to refer to time period between 3000-1200 BCE as the Bronze Age

  27. The Emergence of Civilization

  28. Culture and Civilization • In general, culture is a peoples way of life • Early human beings formed small groups that developed a simple culture in order to survive

  29. Culture and Civilization • A civilization is a complex culture in which large numbers of people share several common elements • There are 6 characteristics of civilization: • Cities • Government • Religion • Social Structure • Writing • Art

  30. Review! • What is the MOST important event that took place during the Neolithic Age? • What is culture? • What are the 6 characteristics of civilization? • What is the order of eras from Prehistory through 1200 BCE?

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