Chapter 2: Prehistoric People8000-3000 BC

Page 32

Section 1: The Paleolithic Age• Until 1.75 million years ago, people lived

only in eastern and southern Africa.

• The earth’s climate became colder and people moved.

• Ocean water froze into glaciers at this time, and sea level fell.

• Land bridges then connected areas of the earth.

• People migrated around northern Africa and crossed land bridges into Europe and Asia. (700,000 years ago)

• They arrived in the Americas between 40-15,000 years ago.

Old Stone Age• AKA Paleolithic age

• 2.3 million to 10,000 years ago

• People were hunters and gatherers.

• Lived in small bands (30)

• Lived no longer than 20-25 years old

• Hunted “home territory” which was about two square miles

• Women gathered berries, nuts, eggs, and fruit.

• Men obtained meat, through hunting and fishing.

• Couldn’t kill large animals• Hunting became easier as they learned to

make tools.• The earliest tools were called the Olduvai

pebble tools.• People also learned to make fire.• Warmth, protection, hunting, weapons,

clearing land

Shelter, Clothes, Language• Early People:• Camped or lived in caves• Used animal hides for clothes• Once they had clothes, people settled in

colder areas.• Language started as hand signals and

progressed to a simple language.• Younger people could now learn from the

elders.

The Neanderthals • Homo habilis: “skilled man” first

people on earth• Homo erectus: “man who walks

upright” • Homo sapiens: “man who thinks”

300-200,000 years ago.• Two kinds of Homo sapiens:

Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons

Neanderthals• 1 million of them lived at one

time: Europe and Africa

• Good hunters, used pitfalls to kill

• Built houses for up to 30

• First people to bury their dead

Cro-Magnons• Appeared around 100,000 years ago in N.

Africa, Asia, and Europe

• Skilled tool makers: invented the burin or chisel

• Great hunters which increased food supply

• Made spears with sharp antler or bone tips