Download Prehistory

Artifact Stations:

Based on your artifact, how do we learn about the past? What occupations study the types of artifacts we’re using today?

Look back at your artifact. How would an archaeologist view this artifact?

How would an anthropologist view this artifact?

Peopling the Earth

Time Periods •Prehistory - before writing •B.C. & A.D. – developed by a monk around A.D. 532 •B.C. – “Before Christ” •A.D. – “Anno Domini”

The Stone Ages •Paleolithic - Old Stone Age: 2,500,000 B.C. to 8,000 B.C. •Neolithic – New Stone Age: 8,000 to 4,000 B.C.

1. 4,000,000 BC – 1,000,000 BC Paleolithic Age: ( Old Stone Age )

2. 1,500,000 BC -- 250,000 BC

2,500,000 BC to 8,000 BC

3. 250,000 BC – 30,000 BC 4. 30,000 BC -- 8,000 BC

Paleolithic Age

• The Ice Ages – 100,000 to 8,000 B.C. • Humans were able to adapt environment through use of fire • Land bridges made possible the spread of humans o Japan & Korea o Great Britain & Europe o Malay Peninsula to Australia o Bering Strait

Beringia

Paleolithic Age • Made tools • Used lava rocks to cut meat & crack bones • Used spears to hunt & fish with • Hunting men and gathering women • NOMADIC – moving from place to place

Are we all Africans “under the skin”????

Paleolithic Age

• Humans found shelter in caves • Cave paintings left behind

4,000,000 BC – 1,000,000 BC 

Hominids : Australopithecines

any member of the family of two-legged primates that includes all humans.  Southern & Eastern Africa  1974: Lucy found in Ethiopia – oldest hominid found to date

 Known as Hominids: first to walk upright (more mobility)

 HOMO HABILIS (“Man of Skills”)

2.5 million to 1.5 million B.C.



found in East Africa – Olduvai Gorge 

created stone tools.

Homo Habilis

1,600,000 BC – 30,000 BC 

HOMO ERECTUS

( “Upright Human Being” )



Larger and more varied tools --> primitive technology



First hominid to migrate and leave Africa for Europe and Asia.



First to use fire ( 500,000 BC )

200,000 BC – 8,000 BC HOMO SAPIENS

( “Wise Human Being” )

Neanderthals

( 200,000 BCE – 30,000 BCE )

Cro-Magnons

( 40,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE )

Homo Sapiens

NEANDERTHALS: 

Neander Valley, Germany (1856)

 Europe & SWest Asia

 200,000-30,000 B.C. 

First humans to bury their dead (Religion)



Made clothes from animal skins.



Lived in caves and tents.

NEANDERTHALS

Early Hut/Tent

CRO-MAGNONs: 40,000 to 8,000 B.C. 

Homo sapiens sapiens ( “Wise, wise human” )

 Found in Europe  By 30,000 B.C. they

replaced Neanderthals.

Cro-Magnons identical to modern humans Spoken language

Planned their hunts: studies animal habits & stalked prey Populations grew faster than

Neanderthals  Created Art

Cro-Magnon

Human Migration

Neolithic Age • The Neolithic Revolution – dawn of systematic agriculture • Neolithic – New Stone Age • Animals – dogs, goats, oxen, cattle, pigs, chickens • Crops – grains, bananas, yams, rice, wheat, barley • Rise of villages – Jericho & Catal Huyuk (8,000 B.C.)

Neolithic Age • Technological advances o Agricultural – sickle, pottery, plow, fertilizer o Loom – for weaving flax & cotton o Artisans made jewelry & weapons

The Agricultural Revolution • Farming developed independently in different parts of the world • Most likely due to climate changes • Slash & Burn – cut trees and burn to clear a field Middle East 8,000 BC

India

Central America

7,000 BC

6,500 BC

China 6,000 BC

Southeast Asia 5,000 BC



Africa: The Nile River Valley  wheat, barley

China: Huang He (Yellow River) Valley  grain (millet), and rice 



Mexico & Central America  corn, beans, squash



Peru  tomatoes, sweet potatoes, white potatoes



8,000 B.C.  Largest Early Settlement at Çatal Hüyük ( Modern Turkey )  6,000 inhabitants



12 cultivated crops



Division of labor



Engaged in trade



Organized religion



Small military

An obsidian dagger

Çatal Hüyük

Advanced

Advanced

Cities

Technology

Specialized

Record-

Workers

Keeping

Complex Institutions

Civilizations 1. ADVANCED CITIES  CENTER OF TRADE – VARIETY OF GOODS 2. SPECIALIZED WORKERS  SKILLS IN A SPECIFIC KIND OF WORK 3. COMPLEX INSTITUIONS  GOVERNMENT, RELIGION, ECONOMY 4. RECORD KEEPING  TAX, LAWS, STORAGE OF GRAIN, CALENDAR OF RITUALS 5. ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY  PLOWS, IRRIGATION, BRONZE AGE FOR WEAPONS

• Civilizations developed in river valleys because they provided: – Resources (water, fertile soil) – Transportation to support trade – Sustainable food supply

• Mesopotamia (Sumeria) – Tigris & Euphrates Rivers • Egypt – Nile River • India – Indus River • China – Yangtze (Yellow) River

Mesopotamia • “land between the rivers”, lies in the Fertile Crescent region of Southwest Asia (Modern-day southern Iraq) • Inhabitants: Sumerians, Akkadians, Babylonians

Group Work Directions • Create a thinking map that explains how ancient Sumer exemplified your assigned civilization characteristic. • Present your findings to the class. • Jobs: – Recorder (1) – Write legibly! – Researchers (3) – Use your text! – Timekeeper (1) – In addition to another job – Presenters (2) – Speak slowly and audibly!



Banks of the Euphrates River (Sumer)

 Population 30,000  3000 B.C.

 Well defined social classes  Barter system  Ziggurat (Temple) is center of city life

Ziggurat at Ur  Temple  “Mountain of the Gods”

Resources • Susan Pojer: Horace Greely HS – NY • Darrell Wells: Mt. Pleasants HS – NC • Patrick Helm: Hickory Ridge HS – NC