Living in the Stone AgeLiving in the Stone Age

Examining History: Examining History: PrehistoryPrehistory

PRE-HISTORYPRE-HISTORY- period before written history- period before written history Approximately 1.75 million years ago, earliest Approximately 1.75 million years ago, earliest

people first began using small pieces of rock people first began using small pieces of rock as toolsas tools

Massive development of humans over years in Massive development of humans over years in 4 major groups:4 major groups:

1) Homo Habilis (2 million years ago)1) Homo Habilis (2 million years ago)2) Homo Erectus (1 million years ago)2) Homo Erectus (1 million years ago)3) Neanderthal (100 000 years ago) 3) Neanderthal (100 000 years ago) 4) Cro-Magnon (50 000 years ago)4) Cro-Magnon (50 000 years ago)

Development of HumansDevelopment of Humans

Homo HabilisHomo Habilis

Latin for “handy man”Latin for “handy man”

Lived in eastern Africa > spread Lived in eastern Africa > spread north to Asianorth to Asia

fossilized human bones found fossilized human bones found with stone tools and animal with stone tools and animal fossilsfossils

Skulls – humans had a flatter Skulls – humans had a flatter head with a brain only 2/3 size; head with a brain only 2/3 size; approximately 1.5 m tallapproximately 1.5 m tall

Built shelters of braches and Built shelters of braches and collected bird eggs and wild collected bird eggs and wild berries for food; hunted wild pigsberries for food; hunted wild pigs

Tools / weapons = rocks, Tools / weapons = rocks, braches, sharp stonesbraches, sharp stones

No clothesNo clothes Did not know how to use fireDid not know how to use fire

Homo ErectusHomo Erectus Latin for “upright man”Latin for “upright man”

Discoveries of “Java Man” (Indonesia) and Discoveries of “Java Man” (Indonesia) and “Peking Man” (China)“Peking Man” (China)

Lived in Afria, south Europe, AsiaLived in Afria, south Europe, Asia Skulls- humans had long, flat and sharply angled Skulls- humans had long, flat and sharply angled

at back (between ape and human head)at back (between ape and human head) Thighbone- identical to modern humans > walk Thighbone- identical to modern humans > walk

uprightupright Charred animals bones found = they used fire to Charred animals bones found = they used fire to

cookcook Belief that homo erectus was a descendant of Belief that homo erectus was a descendant of

homo habilishomo habilis Make fire= first by coals or volcanic ash; later by Make fire= first by coals or volcanic ash; later by

friction= made life easier as they could survive in friction= made life easier as they could survive in colder climatescolder climates

Tools / weapons= bones, rocks, blades for Tools / weapons= bones, rocks, blades for carving, spearscarving, spears

Homo SapiensHomo Sapiens Latin for “reasoning man”Latin for “reasoning man” 250 000 years ago= emergence of Homo Sapiens 250 000 years ago= emergence of Homo Sapiens

who evolved from homo erectuswho evolved from homo erectus is the species to which all modern day people is the species to which all modern day people

belongbelong

Neanderthals vs Cro Neanderthals vs Cro MagnonMagnon

NEANDERATHALNEANDERATHAL

Neander Valley- GermanyNeander Valley- Germany 6 cm taller than homo erectus; 6 cm taller than homo erectus;

thick eyebrow ridgethick eyebrow ridge Tools= knives, spear sharpeners Tools= knives, spear sharpeners

made from chipped rockmade from chipped rock Animals hides worn as clothesAnimals hides worn as clothes Lived in caves kept warm with Lived in caves kept warm with

firefire First to bury the dead (graves First to bury the dead (graves

with bodies carefully preparedwith bodies carefully prepared

CRO MAGNONCRO MAGNON

South France- clearing away South France- clearing away earth from back of a rock shelter earth from back of a rock shelter locally known as Cro-Magnonlocally known as Cro-Magnon

First appeared in Europe 30 000 First appeared in Europe 30 000 years ago following ice ageyears ago following ice age

Brain as large as modern day Brain as large as modern day human; approx. 2 metres tall with human; approx. 2 metres tall with modern “faces”modern “faces”

Tools= slim, sharp edge blades, Tools= slim, sharp edge blades, chisels, knives, spearheads, chisels, knives, spearheads, lamps (stone bowl with animal lamps (stone bowl with animal grease and lit fur or moss)grease and lit fur or moss)

Animals bones and teeth used to Animals bones and teeth used to make musical instruments, make musical instruments, jewelleryjewellery

Cave paintingsCave paintings Fierce warriorsFierce warriors Wiped out NeanderthalsWiped out Neanderthals

Great Leap ForwardGreat Leap Forward 35 000 years ago when changes brought about innovation, 35 000 years ago when changes brought about innovation,

creativity to humans (Homo Sapiens Sapiens)creativity to humans (Homo Sapiens Sapiens)

2 FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES OCCURRED:2 FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES OCCURRED: 1)1) Development of modern anatomyDevelopment of modern anatomy2)2) Beginning of innovative behaviourBeginning of innovative behaviour

EFFECTSEFFECTS Production of crafted tools and more sophisticated Production of crafted tools and more sophisticated

weaponsweapons development of trade for raw materials and ornamentsdevelopment of trade for raw materials and ornaments Emergence of sculptures, paintings and crafted objects Emergence of sculptures, paintings and crafted objects

that showcased beauty and religionthat showcased beauty and religion

““Lithos” = stoneLithos” = stonePaleolithic AgePaleolithic Age Greek “palaios” Greek “palaios”

means “old”means “old” Upper Paleolithic age Upper Paleolithic age

was 50 000 – 10 000 was 50 000 – 10 000 years agoyears ago

Neolithic AgeNeolithic Age Greek “neo” means Greek “neo” means

“new”“new” Neolithic Revolution Neolithic Revolution

occurred between occurred between 9000 – 4000 BCE9000 – 4000 BCE

Comparing the Comparing the Stone AgesStone Ages

PALEOLITHICPALEOLITHIC small groups of 5-10 small groups of 5-10

familiesfamilies Nomadic to semi-Nomadic to semi-

nomadic nomadic Closer relationships Closer relationships

between bands of people between bands of people ie. Cro-Magnon society ie. Cro-Magnon society

NEOLITHICNEOLITHIC People abandoned semi-People abandoned semi-

nomadic life and began nomadic life and began farmingfarming

Agricultural revolution Agricultural revolution was a progression of the was a progression of the “Great Leap Forward”“Great Leap Forward”

planting of crops planting of crops domesticating of animalsdomesticating of animals Better tools & weaponsBetter tools & weapons

Social Structure: Social Structure: Paleolithic AgePaleolithic Age

closer social relationships closer social relationships

Social stratificationSocial stratification== emergence of leadership emergence of leadership and beginning of social classes and beginning of social classes

Social roles: patriarchal; men were big game Social roles: patriarchal; men were big game huntershunters

women captured small game and made women captured small game and made clothing; women & children were gatherersclothing; women & children were gatherers

Social Structure: Social Structure: Neolithic AgeNeolithic Age

Increasing knowledge = more control of food supplyIncreasing knowledge = more control of food supply

End of Ice Age = better for agricultureEnd of Ice Age = better for agriculture

As population grew, so did the competition for landAs population grew, so did the competition for land

Shift from Shift from semi-nomadicsemi-nomadic to to permanent towns and cities permanent towns and cities (first city was Jericho, in Mesopotamia between 8000 – (first city was Jericho, in Mesopotamia between 8000 – 7000 BCE) and more occupations7000 BCE) and more occupations

Trade by barter system (Trade by barter system (obsidian obsidian – most valued traded – most valued traded material traded for farm produce)material traded for farm produce)

Development of hierarchical class systemDevelopment of hierarchical class system

Religion & Art in Religion & Art in Paleolithic AgePaleolithic Age

The Paleolithic Age (Cro-Magnon) was the first to The Paleolithic Age (Cro-Magnon) was the first to develop fine art as drawingsdevelop fine art as drawings

CAVE PAINTINGS of deer, horses and animals which CAVE PAINTINGS of deer, horses and animals which are now extinctare now extinct

cultural explosion in art as more tools, jewellery, and cultural explosion in art as more tools, jewellery, and sculptures/ figurines of clay, ivory and stone emergedsculptures/ figurines of clay, ivory and stone emerged

More advanced spiritual practices with graves found More advanced spiritual practices with graves found jewelry and spears made of mammoth tusks buried jewelry and spears made of mammoth tusks buried with bodies = this suggests a ritual burial with a view of with bodies = this suggests a ritual burial with a view of an afterlifean afterlife

Caves at Lascaux [lass co]Caves at Lascaux [lass co]

Painting at Lascaux Caves (south central France) found in 15 000 BCEPainting at Lascaux Caves (south central France) found in 15 000 BCE Painters used irregularities in cave walls to add a 3-D effect to figuresPainters used irregularities in cave walls to add a 3-D effect to figures Paintings portray an awe and reverence towards animals which shows that Paintings portray an awe and reverence towards animals which shows that

for the first time people were expressing religious beliefs (rituals related to for the first time people were expressing religious beliefs (rituals related to hunting magic; sacrifices of animals)hunting magic; sacrifices of animals)

Venus of WillendorfVenus of Willendorf

Small sculptures such as Small sculptures such as the the Venus of WillendorfVenus of Willendorf were common to the were common to the Paleolithic AgePaleolithic Age

Sculpture features Sculpture features exaggerated curves (large exaggerated curves (large breasts and wide hips) on breasts and wide hips) on female figure female figure

Venus figurines are Venus figurines are symbolic of the importance symbolic of the importance of fertility of a mother of fertility of a mother goddessgoddess

Weapons & TechnologyWeapons & TechnologyPALEOLITHICPALEOLITHIC Better hunting strategies due Better hunting strategies due

to co-operation and more to co-operation and more lethal weapons lethal weapons

Better tools for skinning Better tools for skinning game, preparing food, game, preparing food, sewing clothessewing clothes

Cro-Magnons stored food Cro-Magnons stored food over winter showing more over winter showing more planningplanning

bow and arrow around 20 bow and arrow around 20 000 BCE000 BCE

NEOLITHICNEOLITHIC efficient tools which efficient tools which

helped farm and make helped farm and make weapons and toolsweapons and tools

Domestication of animals Domestication of animals to do manual work and to do manual work and the planting of crops the planting of crops freed people from the freed people from the pursuit of foodpursuit of food

leisure activities (art, leisure activities (art, music, sports, religion)music, sports, religion)

STONEHENGESTONEHENGE

Stonehenge is located on Salisbury Plain in EnglandStonehenge is located on Salisbury Plain in England Created 2800-1500 BCECreated 2800-1500 BCE Stonehenge is an example of a Neolithic megalith Stonehenge is an example of a Neolithic megalith

(megalith = Greek for “big stones”)(megalith = Greek for “big stones”) Exact purpose is unknown: religious rituals, Exact purpose is unknown: religious rituals,

agricultural markers or astronomical observatories?agricultural markers or astronomical observatories?

Mystery of StonehengeMystery of Stonehenge Stonehenge was built in 3 major stages Stonehenge was built in 3 major stages

over 1300 years (tribal people, Beaker over 1300 years (tribal people, Beaker people, Battle Axe folk people people, Battle Axe folk people

Megaliths stones approx. 45 t and Heel Megaliths stones approx. 45 t and Heel Stone is 31 tStone is 31 t

Great debate over the positioning of the Great debate over the positioning of the stones stones

stones reflect an understanding of stones reflect an understanding of astronomy and mathematics (positions astronomy and mathematics (positions reflect sunrise, eclipses of sun and moonreflect sunrise, eclipses of sun and moon

stones could be a religious ritual to sun or stones could be a religious ritual to sun or moon godsmoon gods

Others believe stones were built to show Others believe stones were built to show changing seasons for agriculturechanging seasons for agriculture

Major Innovations of the Major Innovations of the Stone AgeStone Age

More complex human societies (from semi-More complex human societies (from semi-nomadic to permanent cities; domestication of nomadic to permanent cities; domestication of animals; leisure time)animals; leisure time)

Development of social hierarchiesDevelopment of social hierarchies Development of alliances and cooperationDevelopment of alliances and cooperation Marriage customs Marriage customs Development of trade goods and routesDevelopment of trade goods and routes Religious rituals Religious rituals Refined sense of artistic beautyRefined sense of artistic beauty

ALL THESE ALL THESE LEAD TO THE LEAD TO THE

FIRST FIRST “CIVILIZATION“CIVILIZATION

””