early periods of history. paleolithic age (2,500,000 – 10,000 bc) also called the “old stone...
TRANSCRIPT
Early Periods of History
Paleolithic Age (2,500,000 – 10,000 BC)
• Also called the “Old Stone Age”• Hunters and Gatherers for survival• Nomadic (moved from place to
place) to follow animals and vegetation
• Lived in groups of 20-30 men• (necessary for hunting large animals)• Lived in caves (especially in cold
areas) or sticks with animal skins draped over them
• Invention of fire necessary as moved into colder regions
Ice Age (100,000 BC – 8,000 BC)
• Thick sheets of ice cover large parts of Europe, Asia, and North America.
• Fire and ability to adapt to the environment were essential for survival
Ice Age (100,000 BC – 8,000 BC)
• Homo Erectus- 1st to deliberately make fire
Methods for making fire• Friction (rubbing 2 sticks together)• Striking iron pyrite against another
hard stone makes a spark
Fire provides…Warmth, Sense of Community, Protection, Flush animals out of woods, Cook food
The Neolithic Age (8,000 BC – 4,000 BC)
• Also called the New Stone Age• Neolithic Revolution ends
Paleolithic Age
Neolithic Revolution Move from hunting & gathering food to… • Systematic agriculture (Growing food on a regular basis)• Domestication (Taming animals for human use)
The Neolithic Age (8,000 BC – 4,000 BC)
Changes caused by NeolithicRevolution
– Settle in one place (Not nomadic)– Creates food surpluses– Extra time for artisans (skilled
workers making weapons, jewelry, etc. for trade)
– New/improved weapons & tools– Men become more dominant (women stay home)
Civilization Begins!• Around 3,000 BC, begin
to use stronger metal –BRONZE (made by mixing tin and copper)
• Bronze Age Begins (3,000 BC – 1,200 BC)
• First Civilizations created! Prehistory ends!
Civilizations Are Created!6 Characteristics of a
Civilization
•Rise of cities•Growth of Governments•Development of Religious Beliefs•Social Structure (organization of who holds power)•Writing System•Art (Cave Art)
Cave Art
• Art (Cave Art)• Found in France & Spain• Animals drawn in detail & humans (stick figures)• Scientists believe paintings were rituals for
success in hunting
Student Activity #1 Assume that you were a witness to one of the changes shown above, and you experienced its social consequences. Write a journal entry describing your role in the society and your reaction to the change.
Student Activity # 2To show the emergence of civilizations as a chain of causes and effects, fill in the flow chart by putting the following events in the correct order. Then continue the chain of causes and effects by adding 2 events.
•The earliest civilizations arose in river valleys.
•People looked for places where water was plentiful and soil was fertile to establish permanent farming communities.
•Farming replaced hunting and gathering as a means of procuring food.
•Farming peoples settled in river valleys like those of the Nile and Indus.
•Neolithic people domesticated plants and animals.