Human Origins and the Paleolithic Age

1. BELLWORK 8/14: Human Origins Read pgs. 2-3 in the packet and answer the following questions. This is a class set – do not write on it! • Describe early humans in the Paleolithic Age. • Using the quotes on pg.2  What are some early human behaviors that mark the development towards civilization? • THINKER: How do we know about early civilizations? What evidence do historians use to study people who lived thousands of years ago? (Can reference map on pg.3)

2. Unit 1: Ancient Civilizations Human Origins – Early River Valley Civilizations

3. Evidence traced the first human existence back to 4.4 million years ago in East Africa. Hominids: group of human beings and humanlike creatures. Human Origins

4. Culture: the way of life of a group of people. (Ex: knowledge, language, ways in which they eat and dress, religion, art, etc.) Earliest aspect of culture – use of tools. Use of stone tools eventually led to the Paleolithic Age (Greek word – “old stone) or Stone Age. Human Culture

5. Paleolithic Age (2.5M B.C. – 10,000 BC) • Characterized by development of Homo Sapiens, (“person who thinks”) 200,000 years ago. • Nomadic hunter-gatherers • Migrated to Europe and Asia

6. Partner Discussion: How do we learn about prehistory? • With a partner, describe how each term helps us understand prehistory (pgs. 4-5) • Archaeology • Anthropology • Radiocarbon dating • DNA

7. The Ice Ages • Between 2 million and 10,000 years ago, Earth experienced long periods of cold climate, known as the Ice Ages. • Massive glaciers spread out from the Poles. • As sheets of ice formed, the level of the oceans dropped more than 300 feet! • As a result, areas were connected by land bridges. • Only the middle areas of the earth remained warm enough for humans and animals. • Led to the development of clothing and fire.

10. Ice sheet in Antarctica

12. The Iceman • September 19, 1991: Helmut and Erika Simon hiking near the Austria/Italian border • Saw a head and shoulders emerging from the ice. • Scientists dug it out of the glacier and discovered that the iceman was at least 5,000 years old! (Oldest body ever retrieved from a glacier) • He was named “Ötzi the Iceman” after the region in which he was discovered.

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15. The Iceman’s remains were preserved through a combination of factors: Altitude 10,530 feet After he died, the ditch where he lay was filled with snow. For thousands of years, a glacier covered this pocket of snow. This caused the iceman to be naturally mummified. Ötzi the Iceman

16. Asia Map • Our first region of study will be the Middle East & Asia. For the remainder of class, you will label a blank map of this region. • Use the maps and your phone to label all 40 countries. • Write legibly! You will use this map to study for your first map quiz on Friday. • You will also be tested on this region at the end of the semester, so make it count!

19. How to study for map quizzes…. • Break up region into smaller sections • Download map apps for games & quizzes • Create mnemonic devices! • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1d--L3rxBu4 • Label, re-label, and label some more • Watch YouTube tutorials • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kao_sv65g-8 • Memorize songs • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBAnI31VTNY

20. BELLWORK 8/15: Paleolithic Age Read pgs. 6-8 in the packet and answer the following questions. This is a class set – do not write on it! • Scientists use the Latin word Homo which means “human” to categorize hominids….describe the four species of Homo in prehistoric times. • List three characteristics of the Paleolithic way of life. • How did the first humans adapt to survive? • THINKER: What is a revolution?

21. Earliest Hominids • 4M years ago • East Africa • Walked upright • Averaged 40-100lbs & 3.5-5ft. • Brain was 1/3 the size of yours

22. Skeletal remains of earliest hominid compared to modern human

24. Homo Habilis • 2.5M years ago • Larger brain • Taller than previous hominids • Use of stone tools

26. Homo Erectus • 1.5M years ago • Legs and arms more proportionate • Averaged 5 ft. tall • Brain doubled in size • Nomadic hunter-gatherers • Migrated out of Africa

27. Homo Sapiens • 250,000 years ago • Neanderthals • Brain growth • Buried dead, abstract thinking, created art, used fire

29. Homo Sapien Sapiens • 30,000 years ago • Modern Humans • Replaced Neanderthals • Spread to Europe, Asia, Americas • Capable of complex thought, social organization, more advanced tool making, language, medicine, culture

32. Discuss: What is a revolution? 5,000B.C. Characterized by the end of the ice age & appearance of grasslands. Shift from hunter-gatherers to producing their own food. Leads to development of civilizations! Neolithic Revolution

33. We are going to learn more about the achievements during the Neolithic Revolution. Read pgs. 9-13 and answer the following questions in your notes. Be ready to discuss! The Neolithic Revolution

34. The Neolithic Revolution • What was the Neolithic Revolution? • List 3 advances made during the Neolithic Revolution. • Summarize the development and spread of systematic agriculture. • Explain the characteristics of a Neolithic Village. • Describe how the Neolithic Revolution impacted gender roles. • How did tools and weapons change as a result of the Neolithic Revolution? • Define civilization. What are basic characteristics of civilizations? • Where were the earliest civilizations located? Why? • What was the purpose of government in early civilizations? • In ancient civilizations, what was writing used for?

35. Early River Valley Civilizations • The earliest civilizations all developed in river valleys and embodied the characteristics of the Neolithic Revolution. • Nile River Valley (Egypt) • Tigris & Euphrates Rivers (Mesopotamia) • Indus River Valley (India) • Huang River Valley (China)

36. Nile River

37. Tigris and Euphrates Rivers

38. Indus River Valley

39. Huang River Valley

40. Origins of agriculture and its spread in prehistory

42. Neolithic Tools Grind stone used for processing grain Harvesting tool dating back to 3000 BC

43. The first sign of writing came from priests and were symbols, scribbles, or indentations. Later, the writing evolved into pictograms, useful for medical and legal purposes.

44. Neolithic Temples Two Neolithic temples on the island of Malta in the Mediterranean Sea.

45. Closure Timeline Review • Now that you have learned about the origin of humans, culture, and technology, you are going to create a review timeline. • The timeline will span from 5,000,000 BC to 1 BC. • Include all the important events/time periods and a description of each. • Do this in your notes! • Events to include: • First appearance of hominids • Neolithic Revolution • Stone Age • Emergence of Homo Sapiens • Emergence of Homo Erectus • Ice Age

46. Review Video Clip • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGiQaabX3_o

47. Neolithic Village Project • Now that you know all the characteristics and traits of the Neolithic Revolution, you are going to create your own Neolithic Village. • Must demonstrate all characteristics of a Neolithic Village. • Be sure to use pictures, color, and labels! • If you use symbols, you must include a key! • You will NOT be graded on artistic ability – you will be graded on your understanding of the Neolithic Revolution and advances made at the time • Due at end of block #2…… 20 points!

48. Additional option - Early Migration: Out of Africa Theory • How We Got Here: DNA Points to a Single Migration From Africa • Unprecedented DNA analyses of people in indigenous populations suggest that almost all non-Africans trace their roots to one migration from the continent. • http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/22/science/ancient-dna-human-history.html?mwrsm=Email