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Discovery of Early Discovery of Early Humans in AfricaHumans in Africa

Unit 1 NotesUnit 1 Notes

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Early HumansEarly Humans

Existence of Existence of human beings and human beings and human like human like creatures creatures (hominids) traced (hominids) traced back to 4.4 million back to 4.4 million years agoyears ago

Radiocarbon Radiocarbon dating is used to dating is used to date once living date once living thingsthings

DNA used to track DNA used to track changes over time changes over time

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Prehistoric Finds in AfricaPrehistoric Finds in Africa 1992 – hominid 1992 – hominid

teeth found in teeth found in EthiopiaEthiopia

1992-94 – remains 1992-94 – remains of 17 individuals of 17 individuals around 4.4 million around 4.4 million years old (65 lbs years old (65 lbs and 4 feet tall in and 4 feet tall in Africa)Africa)

1974 – “Lucy” 1974 – “Lucy” discovered (a 3.2 discovered (a 3.2 million year old million year old skeleton) in Africaskeleton) in Africa

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First HominidsFirst Hominids

Australopithecus or Australopithecus or “southern ape” “southern ape” (4.4 million yrs.)(4.4 million yrs.)

3½ -5 feet tall3½ -5 feet tall Walked on two legsWalked on two legs NomadicNomadic Lived in groups in eastern Lived in groups in eastern

and southern Africaand southern Africa Ate fish, fruit, nuts, leaves, Ate fish, fruit, nuts, leaves,

& meat from scavenging& meat from scavenging

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Hominid GroupsHominid Groups The group The group HomoHomo, ,

which means which means “human” is divided “human” is divided into 3 groupsinto 3 groups

Homo habilis – Homo habilis – “person with ability” - “person with ability” - 1.5 million years ago1.5 million years ago

Homo erectus - Homo erectus - “person who walks “person who walks upright” – 1.8 million upright” – 1.8 million to 30,000 years agoto 30,000 years ago

Homo sapiens - Homo sapiens - “person who thinks” is “person who thinks” is from 100,000 to from 100,000 to 200,000 years ago. 200,000 years ago.

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Major DevelopmentsMajor Developments Ice Age created land Ice Age created land

bridgesbridges ToolmakingToolmaking Homo habilis Homo habilis

developed larger developed larger brainbrain

Homo erectus – males Homo erectus – males became hunters; became hunters; began using fire & began using fire & clothingclothing

Migrations Migrations Language – allowed Language – allowed

individuals to work as individuals to work as a group & pass on a group & pass on knowledge to children knowledge to children

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Homo SapiensHomo Sapiens

NeanderthalsNeanderthals were were the first Homo the first Homo SapiensSapiens

5.5 feet tall 5.5 feet tall Larger brainsLarger brains Nomadic hunter-Nomadic hunter-

gatherers; used firegatherers; used fire Stocky, thick bones, Stocky, thick bones,

muscular necks & muscular necks & shoulders (helped shoulders (helped them adapt to cold them adapt to cold weather)weather)

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Homo Sapiens SapiensHomo Sapiens Sapiens

Modern humans Modern humans who originated in who originated in Eastern AfricaEastern Africa

Came into contact Came into contact with Neanderthals with Neanderthals & Homo Erectus; & Homo Erectus; were the only ones were the only ones left after awhileleft after awhile

Earliest – Earliest – Cro-MagnonCro-Magnon

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Cro-Magnon ManCro-Magnon Man

Improved tool Improved tool making technology making technology (hammers, hoes, (hammers, hoes, pincers, fish hooks, pincers, fish hooks, stone axe, etc.)stone axe, etc.)

Increased food Increased food supplysupply

New weapons – New weapons – spear, bow & arrowspear, bow & arrow

Lived in Lived in communitiescommunities

Artwork in caves Artwork in caves

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Stone Ages, Etc.Stone Ages, Etc. Paleolithic – 2.5 million to 12,000 B.C.Paleolithic – 2.5 million to 12,000 B.C. (Old Stone Age)(Old Stone Age)

Mesolithic – 12,000 to 8,000 B.C.Mesolithic – 12,000 to 8,000 B.C. (Middle Stone Age)(Middle Stone Age)

Neolithic – 8,000 B.C. to 5,000 B.C.Neolithic – 8,000 B.C. to 5,000 B.C. (New Stone Age)(New Stone Age)

Bronze – circa 4,000 B.C. to 1,500 B.C.Bronze – circa 4,000 B.C. to 1,500 B.C. Iron Age – circa 1,500 to 550 B.CIron Age – circa 1,500 to 550 B.C

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The Development of Agriculture - The Development of Agriculture - CausesCauses

The Last Ice Age ended

Meat spoiled quicklyIn warm weather

Large game animals died out

Food became scarce

People relied on more plant foods for survival

Development of Agriculture: People began to plant seeds and to live in permanent settlements to protect their crops

People began to domesticate animals

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The Development of AgricultureThe Development of AgricultureEffectsEffects

Farming settlements grewInto villages

Villages practiced division of labor, enabling some workers to specialize in useful crafts and develop new technology

Productivity rose

Life was made much easier and comfortable

Demand for goods led to an increase in trade

People acquired more goods; the idea of private property started

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Neolithic Revolution – shift from hunting Neolithic Revolution – shift from hunting and gathering to own production of food and gathering to own production of food (agriculture) – 8000 B.C.(agriculture) – 8000 B.C.

Domestication of animals and grainsDomestication of animals and grains Rise of villages dependent on agriculture (Jericho, Rise of villages dependent on agriculture (Jericho,

Israel and Catal Hüyük, Turkey are a few of the Israel and Catal Hüyük, Turkey are a few of the earliest)earliest)

Technological advances – the loom for Technological advances – the loom for weaving, bricks for building, & advanced weaving, bricks for building, & advanced metalworkmetalwork

Warfare from competition for land & waterWarfare from competition for land & water