If History is the study of the past… If History is the study of the past… then what is Pre-History? then what is Pre-History?

If History is the study of the past… If History is the study of the past… then what is Pre-History? then what is Pre-History?

““It is now clear that long before the It is now clear that long before the invention of invention of writingwriting, human beings made a , human beings made a place for their species in the natural world place for their species in the natural world and laid the social, economic, and cultural and laid the social, economic, and cultural foundations on which their successors built foundations on which their successors built

increasingly complex societies.” Bentley p.8increasingly complex societies.” Bentley p.8

““It is now clear that long before the It is now clear that long before the invention of invention of writingwriting, human beings made a , human beings made a place for their species in the natural world place for their species in the natural world and laid the social, economic, and cultural and laid the social, economic, and cultural foundations on which their successors built foundations on which their successors built

increasingly complex societies.” Bentley p.8increasingly complex societies.” Bentley p.8

Do Now: On your handout, in the space Do Now: On your handout, in the space provided, make a list of images that provided, make a list of images that come to mind when you hear the word come to mind when you hear the word “Stone Age.”“Stone Age.”

Aim: How did humans live Aim: How did humans live during the Paleolithic Age?during the Paleolithic Age?

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

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

HominidsHominids --> any --> any membermember of the family of two- of the family of two-leggedlegged primates that includes primates that includes allall humans. humans.

HominidsHominids --> any --> any membermember of the family of two- of the family of two-leggedlegged primates that includes primates that includes allall humans. humans.

4,000,000 BCE – 1,000,000 4,000,000 BCE – 1,000,000 BCEBCE

4,000,000 BCE – 1,000,000 4,000,000 BCE – 1,000,000 BCEBCE

3.5 Million Years old40% of her bones were

found – most complete and best preserved skeleton on any early ancestor.

Small brain: size of a grapefruit

Short, hairy, limited in intelligence but walked upright, had opposable thumbs, and communicated verbally

“ “Upright Walking Human Upright Walking Human Being”Being” “ “Upright Walking Human Upright Walking Human Being”Being”

Larger Brain: Larger and more Larger and more varied tools. primitive technology, varied tools. primitive technology, better communication, organized better communication, organized hunts.hunts.

Larger Brain: Larger and more Larger and more varied tools. primitive technology, varied tools. primitive technology, better communication, organized better communication, organized hunts.hunts. First hominid to First hominid to migratemigrate and leave Africa for and leave Africa for Europe and Asia. Traveled for stone for toolsEurope and Asia. Traveled for stone for tools

By 200,000 years ago, they were established in temperate areas

First hominid to First hominid to migratemigrate and leave Africa for and leave Africa for Europe and Asia. Traveled for stone for toolsEurope and Asia. Traveled for stone for tools

By 200,000 years ago, they were established in temperate areas

First to use and control First to use and control firefire ( 500,000 BCE )( 500,000 BCE ) First to use and control First to use and control firefire ( 500,000 BCE )( 500,000 BCE )

BIPEDALISMBIPEDALISMBIPEDALISMBIPEDALISM

2,500,000 BCE – 200,000 2,500,000 BCE – 200,000 BCEBCE

2,500,000 BCE – 200,000 2,500,000 BCE – 200,000 BCEBCE

200,000 BCE – 10,000 200,000 BCE – 10,000 BCEBCE

200,000 BCE – 10,000 200,000 BCE – 10,000 BCEBCE

“ “Consciously thinking Consciously thinking human”human”

“ “Consciously thinking Consciously thinking human”human”

• Large brain with well developed areas for conscious and reflective thought-

highly intelligent

•Could live in areas beyond the temperate zones because intelligence allowed them to make clothes and shelters to protect them from the cold.

•Developed more advanced tools than predecessors (knives, spears, bows, arrows); made shelters of wood, bones, and animal skins

•Land bridge exposed by an ice age allowed them to travel to SE Asia, Australia, and the Americas

•With larger populations, large mammals became extinct due to hunting and changes in Earth’s environment

Scene One:1. How does Tom Hanks’

Character finally succeed? What skills did he need to acquire?

2. Describe his reaction? Why was it so important to him?

Scene Two:1. How has he adapted to

his environment? What skills has he developed?

2. Why did it take him so long to take this action?

Yeah, Cavemen weren’t so simple

after all!

Humans evolved over a long period time and developed more advanced brains, which allowed them to spread out in the world and adapt their environments to suit their needs.

Australopithecus Homo Erectus Homo Sapiens

4,000,000 BCE – 4,000,000 BCE – 1,000,000 BCE1,000,000 BCE

4,000,000 BCE – 4,000,000 BCE – 1,000,000 BCE1,000,000 BCE

2,500,000 BCE – 200,000 2,500,000 BCE – 200,000 BCEBCE

2,500,000 BCE – 200,000 2,500,000 BCE – 200,000 BCEBCE

200,000 BCE – 10,000 200,000 BCE – 10,000 BCEBCE

200,000 BCE – 10,000 200,000 BCE – 10,000 BCEBCE

““Paleolithic” --> “Paleolithic” --> “Old StoneOld Stone” Age” Age““Paleolithic” --> “Paleolithic” --> “Old StoneOld Stone” Age” AgeHunting (men) & gathering (women) --> small bands of Hunting (men) & gathering (women) --> small bands of 20-30 humans20-30 humansHunting (men) & gathering (women) --> small bands of Hunting (men) & gathering (women) --> small bands of 20-30 humans20-30 humansNOMADIC (moving from place to NOMADIC (moving from place to place)place)NOMADIC (moving from place to NOMADIC (moving from place to place)place)

2,500,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE2,500,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE

•Hunting and gathering: no private property or

social distinctions based on wealth due to mobility

•Possessed some small items carried during

migrations

•Social distinctions based on age, strength, courage, intelligence, personality

•Gender equality because both contributed to

survival

What role did men and women play in a

Hunter-Gatherer society?

•Small bands with agreements with

neighboring bands on territories, marriage

partners•Systematic hunting using special tools,

tactics•Permanent settlements

were established in areas with abundant food

resources (grains, fish)

Neander Valley, GermanyNeander Valley, Germany

First fully modern human beings-physically and mentally

Neander Valley, GermanyNeander Valley, Germany

First fully modern human beings-physically and mentally

First humans to First humans to bury their dead. bury their dead. Burial sites with rituals (Shanidar-covered bodies with flowers)

Sites where items left with bodies may indicate belief in afterlife

First humans to First humans to bury their dead. bury their dead. Burial sites with rituals (Shanidar-covered bodies with flowers)

Sites where items left with bodies may indicate belief in afterlife

Made clothes from animal Made clothes from animal skins.skins.

Made clothes from animal Made clothes from animal skins.skins.

Lived in Lived in cavescaves and and tents.tents.

Lived in Lived in cavescaves and and tents.tents.

Early Early Hut/TentHut/Tent

Early Early Hut/TentHut/Tent

Homo sapiens sapiens Homo sapiens sapiens (“Wise, wise human” (“Wise, wise human” ))

Homo sapiens sapiens Homo sapiens sapiens (“Wise, wise human” (“Wise, wise human” ))

First Human beings of the fully modern type – Direct descendant of modern day humans

First Human beings of the fully modern type – Direct descendant of modern day humans

WHY???WHY??? WHY???WHY???By 30,000 BCE theyBy 30,000 BCE they replaced Neanderthals. replaced Neanderthals.By 30,000 BCE theyBy 30,000 BCE they replaced Neanderthals. replaced Neanderthals.

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

• Interested in fashion and art

•Depictions of animals and humans; possibly to gain control over animals they were hunting by capturing their spirits

•Made paints and brushes from natural materials – shows higher order thinking

•Small sculpture of women with exaggerated sexual features, showing interest in fertility

Paleolithic Cave Art

What do these paintings tell us about Paleolithic Culture?

Stone Age Tool Kit

Religionfire/animals were sacredBuried their dead with personal possessions

Religionfire/animals were sacredBuried their dead with personal possessions

Paleolithic Age“Old Stone Age”

2.5 million years ago – 8000B.C

Paleolithic Age“Old Stone Age”

2.5 million years ago – 8000B.C

SocietyNomadic – find food

Traveled with clan 20-30pplLived in caves

SocietyNomadic – find food

Traveled with clan 20-30pplLived in caves

FoodHunter-Gatherers

No Farming

FoodHunter-Gatherers

No Farming

TechnologyUsed stone tools for

hunting and warHarnessed fire

TechnologyUsed stone tools for

hunting and warHarnessed fire

Paleolithic peoples lived in small nomadic bands with few class distinctions, and had an interest in art and simple spiritual beliefs.

NeanderthalsNeanderthals( 200,000 BCE – 30,000 ( 200,000 BCE – 30,000

BCE )BCE )

NeanderthalsNeanderthals( 200,000 BCE – 30,000 ( 200,000 BCE – 30,000

BCE )BCE )

Cro-MagnonsCro-Magnons( 40,000 BCE – 10,000 ( 40,000 BCE – 10,000

BCE )BCE )

Cro-MagnonsCro-Magnons( 40,000 BCE – 10,000 ( 40,000 BCE – 10,000

BCE )BCE )

Homo Sapiens

Homo Sapien Homo Sapien SapienSapien

(40,000 BCE-Present )(40,000 BCE-Present )

Homo Sapien Homo Sapien SapienSapien

(40,000 BCE-Present )(40,000 BCE-Present )

70,000 BCE – 10,000 70,000 BCE – 10,000 BCEBCE

70,000 BCE – 10,000 70,000 BCE – 10,000 BCEBCE