origins of modern humans. who was our earliest hominid ancestor? “lucy” australopithecus...
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Origins of Modern Humans
Who was our earliest Hominid Ancestor?
• “Lucy”• Australopithecus
afarensis• 3.2 million years ago• Discovered by Donald
Johanson• Ethiopia• Larger brain than ape• Jutting jaw, prominent brow
bones, flared cheekbones• Under 4 ft.• Bipedal• Small social groups• Simple tools• Ate insects, eggs, fruit• NO spoken language
What were the advantages?
•More efficient
•Energy/Calorie savings
•More offspring
Who was Paranthropus boisei?
• 1.9 – 1.5 million years ago
• heavyset, with gorilla-like face
• led by a dominant male whose strength and power holds the group together
• Well adapted to the dry arid conditions
• huge teeth, strong jaws• Ate tough vegetation
like tubers and roots• Became extinct
What were the advantages?
•Well adapted to his environment
Homo habilis (“handy man”)1.9 – 1.5 million years ago
• Africa• 1931-Louis Leakey found
stone tool at Olduvai Gorge
• 1959-more bones found• 1987-partial skeleton
found by Johanson• Larger brain, smaller
back teeth• Apelike arms• 5 ft tall, 100 lbs• Meat eater, scavenger
What were the advantages?
•Bigger brain led to tool use
O what continents did Homo erectus groups migrate after leaving Africa?
What do the migration routes of Homo Sapiens reveal about their survival skills and ability to adapt?
Homo erectus1.8- million – 200,000 years ago
• Africa, Asia, Europe• migrated out of Africa • Evolved into homo sapiens• Large brain• Smooth, round forehead;
single brow ridge; protruding jaw; large back teeth; no chin
• Tall, thin, barrel-chested, narrow pelvis
• Fully upright stance• Flint hand-axes• Controlled fire• Huts made of tree branches• Meat• Possible spoken language
Homo ergaster (Homo erectus too)1.5 -1 million years ago
• Africa• long, modern looking
noses cooled air• hairless bodies, millions
of tiny sweat glands• Bigger brains • complex understanding of
the natural world• expert toolmakers • big brains for
understanding others in their group
Homo heidlebergensis400,000 – 100,000 years ago
• Extinct• Africa, Europe, Asia• may be ancestor to
neanderthalensis• Blended elements of
both neanderthalensis and modern humans
Homo neanderthalensis230,000 – 30,000 years ago
• Europe, western Asia, Near East
• extinct• Larger brain than modern
humans• Bulge at back of skull• Bony brows, jutting face,
heavy jaw, receding chin• Stocky short limbed bodies• Thick, heavy bones and
powerful muscles• Used sophisticated tools• Hunted large animals in
groups• Cared for sick, old, wounded• Made clothing• Simple language
Homo sapiens (“wise man”)130,000 years ago
• Lived at same time as Neanderthal
• Lighter skeleton• Large brain• Smaller teeth• finely crafted and diverse tools• more efficient foraging
strategies• more complex social
organization• the full development of spoken
language• artistic expression• Spiritual beliefs
2 million BC-Early People begin using stone tools
30,000 BC-Stone age people create art
18,000 BC huge glaciers spread across the northern hemisphere
9,000 BC-people settle and grow crops
Controversy
Out of Africa Theory– Homo sapiens started in
Africa and migrated to populate the world
Multiregional Theory
• evolution and diversification of modern homo sapiens took place across a large geographic region that encompassed Africa, Asia, and Europe.
•no single cradle of origin but a "thousand points of light."
What makes us Human?
Unique Human Traits
• self-awareness• meta cognition • “reading” others• morality • collaboration toward
common goals• speech • symbolic cognition• nimble thumbs• conscience • imagination• impulse control• altruism
The Old Stone Age2 million BC-10,000 BC
• Earliest period of human history• Fossil evidence of early hominids found in
East Africa by the Leakeys• Johansson found “Lucy” in Africa• Descendants migrated out of Africa and
throughout the rest of the world
What were the characteristics of the Paleolithic Age?
2 million BCE – 10,000 BCE
• Paleo = “Old” • foraged for food• nomadic• simple tools• built shelters• egalitarian social
groups-2-30 people• genders fairly equal• belief in spiritual
world
What are the characteristics of Hunter/Gatherers?
• small foraging bands
• nomadic• dependent on
environment but adapted to it– -clothing– controlled fire
• simple tools• spoken language
What were the religious beliefs of Paleolithic peoples?
• Animistic• Cave paintings• “Venus” sculptures• Buried the dead
What changed during the Neolithic Period?
Dependency on Natural Resources *Before: Moved with their food supply *After: Water and good soil for crops
Government *Before: Families (male ruled) evolutionary, from family to village to city. *After: Chief with council.
Economy *Before: No real economy *After: Barter system
Technology *Before: Stone tools After: Farming, baking and firing pottery, specialized tools, bronze tools and weapons
What Changed during the Neolithic Agricultural Revolution?
What were the characteristics of the Neolithic Age? • Farming began
– settled into permanent villages
• New skills & tools– Pottery
– Bronze tools & weapons
• Domesticated animals– Dog as
helper/companion
– Cattle, goats sheep pigs
• Selective breeding• Food, fertilizer,
clothing
How did life change during the Neolithic Agricultural Revolution?
• More reliable food supply-less varied
• Population growth• Division of Labor
– Job specialization– Personal property– Conflict? – Cooperation?
Life in Neolithic Communities
• Organized around kinship and marriage
• Clans and lineages basis of land ownership
• Matriarchal• Patriarchal society
Neolithic Culture
• Religion-ancestors-earth-sky• Agriculture-Earth Mother-source of all new life• Male Sky God-all powerful• Burials and ancestor cults (megaliths & ziggurats)
Language Diffusion
Early Towns and Specialists
• Villages grew into towns-farmers
• Centers of trade & craft specialization
• Elaborate houses and temples, food surpluses
Jericho8,000 BCE
• 10 acre settlement-mud houses
• Several thousand people
• Massive stone wall-defense
• 12 feet tall and 6 feet thick
Catal Huyuk7,000-5,000 BCE
• 32 acres-mud houses-elaborately decorated
• No defensive wall-but outer houses had no windows facing outside-effective barrier
• Long distance trade and fine arts and crafts-religious artifacts
What were some new technologies of the Neolithic Agricultural Revolution?
• Calendars• Use animals to plow• Stronger, specialized tools• Weaving cloth• pottery
Is the word “Civilization” problematic?
Characteristics of Civilization
• Advanced cities
• Specialized Workers
• Complex Institutions
• Record Keeping
• Advanced Technology
Advanced Cities: Urbanization
Record Keeping: Literacy
Complex Institutions: Religion
Complex Institutions: Government
Specialized Workers: Social Structure
How did the First Cities Emerge?
• Farmers cultivated land along fertile river valleys
• produced surplus• Population expanded• Villages grew into
cities
Ur: Sumer’s earliest city
Ur: Agricultural Economy
Ur: Urbanization
Ur: Trade
Ur: Temple as Center of City Life
River Valley Civilizations