Prehistoric humans
Homo Habilis means "handy man"
homo erectus means "upright man"
2.4 million years ago east africa
Used crude stone tools.
1.5-2 million years ago in East Africa
migrated out of Africa
larger brain
controlled fire and used stone tools
gender roles in paleolithic times
Homo Erectus had arms and legs
in more modern human purportions
homo sapiens means "wise men"
Migrated around the world
More modern tools, language
200,000 years ago in Africa
The first anatomically modern humans
Today all humans belong to this group
paleolithic age: AKA "old stone age"
Began about 2.5 million years ago and lasted until about 8000 BC
They traveled in groups of 20 to 30 and survived by hunting and gathering
paleolithic tools
scraping tool
hammer heads
nut grinder
hatchet head
people and environment continued
women were primarily gatherers who obtained berries nuts roots and grains
as hunter-gatherers the search for food dominated paleolithic peoples' lives
men were primarily the hunters who followed the large animals and brought back food to the camp
many historians believe that there was equality between men and women due to the fact that both played important roles.
technology (tools and methods to perform tasks) began with paloelithic age
people created hand axes spears bows and arrows harpoons cutting tools scraping tools needles hoes grindstones and other tools to make their lives easier
flint helped develop tools and weapons in the old stone age
inventing tools helped paleolithic people to adjust to their environment and to make use of its resources to improve their lives
domestication
fire
Cooked food tasted better and improved nutrition
Provided light
Frightened animals away
Provided warmth
more man vs nature: the ice ages
The use of fire is and excellent example of people changing the environment to fit their needs
To live, people had to adapt by changing the environment.
During the Ice Ages parts of Europe, Asia, and North America were covered by thick sheets of ice
The Ice Ages began about 100,000 BC and ended about 8,000 BC
effects of the ice ages
this allowed people to migrate into the Americas from Asia (Bering land bridge)
Today many historians and scientists have found evidence that people may have first come to the Americas from Europe
Falling sea levels revealed land bridges that had previously been underwater
Paleolithic Art And Culture
Consisted of their methods of hunting and gathering the tools they created to complete tasks, their beliefs (animism: everything in nature has a spirit) in their art
Cave painting have been found that depict animals and are believed to have been created as a religious or magical ritual to bring success in hunting
CULTURE (way of life for a group of people who share similar beliefs and customs)
for hunting and protection, meat milk and wool
cattle, sheep, pigs, goats, and dogs
farming
tools
agriculture
rearing animals for fod
growing plants for food
fertile soil
helped people settle down because they had a reloable source of fiood
helps plant san dcrops grow
plows
hoes
preparing land to plan seeds
digging soil
sickle
cut through grain
millstones
ground the grain into flour
cattle were tied to plows an d were led up and down the rows
also left manure that fertilized the land.
technology
many weapons
kilns/ovens
stone wheel
bake clay pots
smelting
heat and melt metal from rocks