Prehistory Prehistory

PrehistoryPrehistory

Historians generally use documents or written records to recreate the past.

Prehistory means the period before writing was developed.

ArchaeologyArchaeology

*The study of past societies based on an analysis of what people left behind-artifacts

*Artifacts-tools, pottery, paintings, weapons, buildings

Anthropology Anthropology

The study of human lifeand culture

Use the remains of humans and other artifactsto create theories of pastlife and lifestyles

Dating Artifacts and Dating Artifacts and FossilsFossils

• These scientists develop theories based on:– Stratigraphy: idea that is based

on the idea that older artifacts or remains will be found deeper than those found above them

– Radiocarbon dating: used to estimate the age of living things based on the radioactive particles that are present

Early Stages of Human Early Stages of Human DevelopmentDevelopment

Early HumansEarly Humans

First humanlike creatures lived 4 million First humanlike creatures lived 4 million years ago-years ago-australopithecines “southern ape” “southern ape” in Africain Africa

Hominid-walked upright and made simple Hominid-walked upright and made simple toolstools

They also were discovered to have an They also were discovered to have an opposable thumb that allowed them to pick opposable thumb that allowed them to pick up and hold objects—tools which would be up and hold objects—tools which would be made primarily of stone.made primarily of stone.

Lucy—click to view video clip—click to view video clip

Homo habilisHomo habilis

A more advanced hominid with a larger brain.

“Man of Skill”

Developed 2.5 to 1.6 million years ago.

May have used stone tools (made of lava).

Homo Erectus Homo Erectus

“upright human being”

Used tools for specialized purposes

Dug for food, cut meat from animal bones, and scraped animal skins

First use of fire

May have had the first spoken language

Lived about 1.6 million years ago

Homo erectus—click to view video clip

Homo SapiensHomo Sapiens

• By around 200,000 BC, these modern humans lived in Africa—they eventually migrated to Eurasia, Australia, and North America

• “wise human being”

• Neanderthals and Homo sapiens sapiens (“wise wise human being”)

• It is unclear if these two competed with one another, but evidence supports the idea that they did live near each other.

Homo sapiensHomo sapiens

NeanderthalNeanderthal• Lived in caves or built shelter of wood/animal

remains

• Found ways to survive the freezing temperatures of the Ice Age

• First to bury the dead-would imply a belief in the afterlife

• Disappeared around 30,000 BC

Cro-MagnonCro-Magnon “Homo sapiens sapiens”

Truly modern humans

“thinking thinking man”

More environmentally adaptive

Eras of Early Human Eras of Early Human Life Life

• Paleolithic Age (Old Stone Age)

Historians usually date this period from 2,500,000 to 8,000 BCE.

Early humans used stone tools and utilized hunting (men) and gathering (women) techniques to get their food. They were nomadic people (moved place to place).

Found shelter in caves or created shelters using wooden poles and animal hides.

Used fire to keep warm and to cook their food.

Eras of Early Human Eras of Early Human Life Life

The hunter-gatherer lifestyle led early humans to develop a close relationship with the world around them.

As a result, early humans sought to depict the world they saw.

Why might early humans have created cave paintings?

Eras of Early Human Eras of Early Human Life Life

• The Mesolithic Age (Middle Stone Age)

• Depending on place, dates somewhere in 8000 BCE to 2700 BCE

• Specialized stone tools such as the bow and arrow, fishhooks, harpoons, and canoes

Eras of Early Human Eras of Early Human LifeLife

• The Neolithic Age (New Stone Age)

• Dates from about 10,000 to 8,000 years ago

• Polished tools such as wedges, saws, drills, chisels, and needles

• Period of systematic agriculture (growing food on a regular basis) and domestication (adapt for human use) of animals

Agricultural RevolutionAgricultural Revolution

The shift from hunting animals and gathering food to using of animals and growing of food

Occurred at different times around the world

Humans had greater control over their world

Began to settle in communities

*Possibly the most important development in human history

Bronze AgeBronze Age

The end of the Neolithic Age comes with the use of metals

Dates from around 3000 BC to 1200 BC

Led to an increase in concentrations of people in river valleys and a rise of civilizations

CivilizationCivilization

Rise of Cities

Growth of Governments (maintain food surplus)

Organized Religion

Social Structure

Use of Writing

Artistic Activity

A complex culture in which large numbers of human beings share a number of common elements

Other CharacteristicsOther Characteristics

Development of specific culture-way of life of Development of specific culture-way of life of a peoplea people

Rise of monarchs-king or queen who ruled a Rise of monarchs-king or queen who ruled a kingdomkingdom

Rise of artisans-skilled workers that made Rise of artisans-skilled workers that made items such as weapons or jewelry items such as weapons or jewelry