Theories on prehistory and early man constantly change as new evidence comes to light. - Louis Leakey, British paleoanthropologist

Theories on prehistory and early man constantly change as new evidence comes to light. - Louis Leakey, British paleoanthropologist

Geologic Time• Earth – 4.5-6 Billion Years old

– Carbon Dating – When things die they stop absorbing carbon

– Uranium Dating – Can date things much older than carbon

Geologic Time• 1 Billion Years ago – First life• 65 million years ago – Dinos lived• 4 million years ago – First “human

like” creatures – Lucy• 1,750,000 First Human –

“Cavemen”• 6,000 years ago first civilization

1. 4,000,000 BC – 1,000,000 BC1. 4,000,000 BC – 1,000,000 BC2. 1,500,000 BC -- 250,000 BC2. 1,500,000 BC -- 250,000 BC3. 250,000 BC – 30,000 BC3. 250,000 BC – 30,000 BC4. 30,000 BC -- 10,000 BC

Paleolithic Age:( Old Stone Age )

2,500,000 BC to 8,000 BC

Paleolithic Age:( Old Stone Age )

2,500,000 BC to 8,000 BC

STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT• 1. Australopithecus – “Lucy”

– 4 Million years ago– Early Hominid – 4 ft tall

• 2. Homo Habilis – Human with abilities– 1.5 million years ago

• 3. Homo Erectus – Walks Upright• 4. Homo Sapien – Person who

thinks

4,000,000 BC – 1,000,000 BC

4,000,000 BC – 1,000,000 BC

Hominids --> any member of the family of two-legged primates that includes all humans.

Hominids --> any member of the family of two-legged primates that includes all humans.

Australopithecines

Australopithecines An

Apposable Thumb

An Apposable Thumb

“Lucy” – Oldest found

HOMO HABILIS ( “Man of Skills” )

HOMO HABILIS ( “Man of Skills” )

found in East Africa.

found in East Africa.

created stone tools.

created stone tools.

“Paleolithic” --> “Old Stone” Age

“Paleolithic” --> “Old Stone” Age 2,500,000 BC – 10,000 BC

2,500,000 BC – 10,000 BC

hunting (men) & gathering (women) --> small bands of 20-30 humans

hunting (men) & gathering (women) --> small bands of 20-30 humans

NOMADIC (moving from place to place)

NOMADIC (moving from place to place)

Made tools

Made tools

Humans during this period found shelter in caves.

Humans during this period found shelter in caves. Cave paintings left behind.

Cave paintings left behind.

Purpose??Purpose??

1,6000,000 BC – 30,000 BC

1,6000,000 BC – 30,000 BC HOMO ERECTUS

( “Upright Human Being” )

HOMO ERECTUS ( “Upright Human Being” )

Larger and more varied tools --> primitive technology

Larger and more varied tools --> primitive technology

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

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

First to use fire ( 500,000 BC )

First to use fire ( 500,000 BC )

BIPEDALISM

BIPEDALISM

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

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

200,000 BC – 10,000 BC200,000 BC – 10,000 BC

HOMO SAPIENS ( “Wise Human

Being” )

HOMO SAPIENS ( “Wise Human

Being” )

Neanderthals( 200,000 BC – 30,000 BC )

Neanderthals( 200,000 BC – 30,000 BC )

Cro-Magnons( 40,000 BC – 10,000

BC )

“Ice Man”

Cro-Magnons( 40,000 BC – 10,000

BC )

“Ice Man”

NEANDERTHALS:

NEANDERTHALS: Neander Valley,

Germany (1856)

Neander Valley,

Germany (1856)

First humans to bury their dead.

First humans to bury their dead. Made clothes from animal skins.

Made clothes from animal skins.

Lived in caves and tents.

Lived in caves and tents.

NEANDERTHALS

NEANDERTHALS

Early Hut/Tent

Early Hut/Tent

CRO-MAGNONs:CRO-MAGNONs: Homo sapiens

sapiens ( “Wise, wise human” )

Homo sapiens sapiens ( “Wise, wise human” )

By 30,000 BCE they replaced Neanderthals.

WHY???

WHY???

70,000 BC – 10,000 BC70,000 BC – 10,000 BC

“Neolithic” --> “New Stone” Age

“Neolithic” --> “New Stone” Age

10,000 BC – 4,000 BC 10,000 BC – 4,000 BC

Gradual shift from:

Gradual shift from:Nomadic lifestyle --> settled,

stationery lifestyle.

Nomadic lifestyle --> settled, stationery lifestyle.Hunting/Gathering --> agricultural production and domestication of animals.

Hunting/Gathering --> agricultural production and domestication of animals.

*Jewelry worn

8,000 BC – 5,000 BC 8,000 BC – 5,000 BC

Agriculture developed independently in different parts of the world.

Shift from food gathering to food production

Agriculture developed independently in different parts of the world.

Shift from food gathering to food production

Middle East India Central America China Southeast Asia

8,000 BC 7,000 BC 6,500 BC 6,000 BC 5,000 BC

Middle East India Central America China Southeast Asia

8,000 BC 7,000 BC 6,500 BC 6,000 BC 5,000 BC

AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION

• Domestication – adaptation of plants and animals for use. (crops, pigs, cattle, goats)– Used ashes, fish and manure for

fertilization– People’s diets improved with

domestication • Will eventually be too much of a good

thing.

Development

of Agriculture

Development

of Agriculture

?

?

?

?

Why do you think the development of agriculture occurred around the same time in several different places?

Why do you think the development of agriculture occurred around the same time in several different places?

Why do some archaeologists believe that women were the first farmers?

Why do some archaeologists believe that women were the first farmers?

Growing crops on a regular basis made possible the support of larger populations.

Growing crops on a regular basis made possible the support of larger populations. More permanent, settled communities emerged.

More permanent, settled communities emerged.

9,000 BCE --> Earliest Agricultural Settlement at JARMO ( northern Iraq ) --> wheat

9,000 BCE --> Earliest Agricultural Settlement at JARMO ( northern Iraq ) --> wheat

8,000 BC --> Largest Early Settlement at Çatal Hüyük ( Modern Turkey ) --> 6,000 inhabitants

8,000 BC --> Largest Early Settlement at Çatal Hüyük ( Modern Turkey ) --> 6,000 inhabitants

Division of labor

Division of labor

Engaged in trade Engaged in trade

Organized religion Organized religion

Small military

Small military

12 cultivated crops

12 cultivated crops

An obsidian dagger

Çatal HüyükÇatal Hüyük

What role did the food supply play in shaping the nomadic life of hunter-gatherers and the settled life of the farmers?

What role did the food supply play in shaping the nomadic life of hunter-gatherers and the settled life of the farmers?

Advanced

Cities

Specialized

Workers

Complex

Institutions

Record-

Keeping

Advanced

Technology