Pre History

What is "history?" the record of eventsa branch of knowledge that records and

explains past eventsRequisite human presence (or natural

history)Then, what is "Prehistory?"

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History

Pre HistoryThe period of time before written records

Pre history

Without written records, how do we know what happened?

archaeological discoveries remains of hominids, art, migratory patterns, discovered settlements, etc.

Earliest humanlike creaturesLived in southern and eastern Africa about 3-4

million years agoLived during the

Paleolithic EraThe Paleolithic Erarefers to the time before peopledeveloped stationary civilizationsand settled down to live in one place.

Hominids

Or “southern ape-men” Were the first to make simple

stone toolsWere bipedal (walked on 2

feet)Allowed hands to be free to

grasp objectsAllowed for looking over tall

African savannah grasslands

Hominids: Australopithecines

"Lucy," Australopithecine fossil, found in 1974 by Donald Johanson

Three major differences from earlier primates:bipedalisma sizable brain

(enables abstract thought and fine motor control)

a larynx (allows for complex

speech)

Hominids: Lucy

Or “handy human”Brain 50% larger than AustralopithecinesMore sophisticated in gathering of food

Hominids: homo habilis

Or “upright human”Developed 1.8 million years agoUsed larger and more varied toolsFirst hominid to leave Africa and move into

Europe and Asia

Hominids: Homo erectus

Occurred around 250,000 years agoHomo sapiens also known as “wise human”There were two types of Homo sapiens that

emerged*Neanderthal*Homo sapiens sapiens

Hominids: Homo sapiens

Remains found in the Neander Valley in Germany, Europe, and the Middle East

Remains dated between 100,000 and 30,000 BCE

Relied on stone toolsBuried their dead (some scientist believe that

this means they believed in the afterlife)Made clothes from the skins of the animals

they killed for food

Neanderthal

First anatomically modern humansNamed “wise, wise human”Appeared in Africa between 200,000 and

150,000 years agoBegan to spread out of Africa about 100,000

years agoBy 30,000 BCE, they had largely replaced the

mostly-extinct NeanderthalsBy 10,000 BCE, Homo sapiens sapiens could

be found throughout the world

Homo sapiens sapiens

Prehistory to 8,000 BCETools made of stone, bone, wood, etcRise of Homo sapiens being successful

huntersContributed to the extinction of

mastodon/mammothStill hunter-gatherer societies

Spent 3-5 hrs/day hunting/gatheringFruits, berries, seeds, edible roots

The Paleolithic Age (Old Stone Age)

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1.4 million yrs ago: deliberate fires500,000 yrs ago: sustainment of hearthsCooking “invented” through wildfires (probably)

Meat/veggies become easier to digest and better to the taste when cooked

Gave light for after dark hoursProvided heat in colder climates/seasonsProvided protection against animalsHelped in hunting

Scare animals into trapsSmoke out bees to get honey

Fire

Hunter-Gatherer SocietyCommunity

Enough people to defend/protect the group

Enough people to hunt/gather and support the group

NOT so many as the food will not feed the entire group

Mobile (most)Follow herds/seasonal

plantsLived under

overhangs/caves

Sedentary (some)Fishing villages that

relied on the seaDid not move according

to weatherCreated solid

structures to live in

Gender RolesWomen: gathering,

cooking, child careMen: hunting, shelter (patriarchy!!)