World History

The Early Beginnings of Mankind

The First Humans

“Theories on prehistory and early man constantly change as new evidence comes to light.”

- Louis Leakey, British paleoanthropologist

Terms to Know

Prehistory Anthropology Archaeology Paleontology Artifacts Hominid

Radiocarbon Dating

Used to determine the age of artifacts and fossils

“Lucy” was unearthed in 1974 by Donald Johanson Radiocarbon dated to 3.2 million years old Had apelike features

Hominid Groups

Homo Habilis 1.5 million years ago

Homo Erectus At its height 200,000 to 100,000 BCE Speech by 50,000 BCE Made Spears and Clubs to hunt with Remains found on Africa, Europe, Asia

Homo Sapiens Homo Sapien Sapiens

Early Discoveries

STAGES OF EARLY HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

1. 4,000,000 - 1,000,000 BCE

- Australopithecus

2. 1,500,000 – 250,000 BCE

- Homo Habalis

3. 250,000 – 30,000 BCE

- Homo Erectus

4. 30,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE

- Homo Sapiens

Paleolithic Age2,500,000 – 10,000 BCE

PALEOLITHIC AGE2,500,000 BCE – 8,000 BCE

Made Stone Tools Hunter/Gatherer Roles

Bands of 20-30 members (typically related) Men = Hunters & Women = Gatherers

Nomadic Cultures Migrate from Place to Place Often Times Used Caves for Shelter

Hominids – Any member of the family of two legged primates; including all humans

AustralopithecinesApposable Thumbs

4,000,000 BCE – 1,000,000 BCE

HOMO HABILIS

“man with ability”

• Found in East Africa

• Created Stone Tools

1,500,000 BCE – 30,000 BCE

Homo Erectus

“Upright Person”

• Bipedalism

• Larger and More Varied Tools

• First Hominid to Migrate from Africa to Eurasia

• First to Use Fire

200,000 BCE – 10,000 BCE

HOMO SAPIENS

“Wise Human Being”

• Neanderthals (200,000 – 30,000 BCE)

Made Clothes from Animal Hides

1st to Bury their Dead

• Cro-Magnons (40,000 – 10,000 BCE)

1st Homo Sapiens Sapiens?

“Neolithic” = “New Stone” Age 10,000 BCE – 4,000 BCE

Gradual Shift From: Nomadic Lifestyle --- Sedentary Lifestyle Hunting/Gathering --- Domesticated Agriculture

The Agricultural Revolution Developed Independently Throughout the World “Slash & Burn” Farming

Middle East India Cent. America China SE Asia

8000 BCE 7000 BCE 6500 BCE 6000 BCE 5000 BCE

Growing crops on a regular basis made possible the support of expanding populations

More permanent, sedentary communities began to emerge

9,000 BCE: The earliest Agricultural Settlement emerged at JARMO in modern day Iraq Primary Crop was wheat

8000 BCE: Largest Early Settlement at Catal Huyuk (Modern Turkey)

6000 inhabitants

12 cultivated crops

Emergence of a Division of Labor

Organized Religion

Small Military

Çatal HüyükÇatal HüyükÇatal HüyükÇatal Hüyük

AdvancedAdvanced

CitiesCities

SpecializedSpecialized

WorkersWorkers

ComplexComplex

InstitutionsInstitutions

Record-Record-

KeepingKeeping

AdvancedAdvanced

TechnologyTechnology