The Origins and Advancement of Early Human Societies

The Origins and Advancement of Early Human SocietiesWH I.2IntroductionsHumans, or homo sapiens, emerged in East Africa between 100,000 and 400,000 years ago. Humans migrated from Africa to Eurasia, Australia, and then to the Americas roughly 12,000 years ago by crossing the Bering Strait.

The early ages of humankind are based on the kinds of tools used; first stone, then copper and bronze, and then iron.

The First Stone Age 400,000 to 8000 BC1. The first age of humankind is called the Paleolithic age. This means Old Stone Age. Why do you think it was called that?

2. The Paleolithic Age started with the use of simple tools and ended when humans first used farming techniques.

Hunter-Gatherer Societies1. The first human societies were know as hunter-gatherers. Because they lived by hunting and gathering food that they found in the wild.2. In other words, the were nomadic, traveling constantly as a means of survival. Otherwise, they would quickly use up their sources of food and clothing.Hunter-Gatherer Societies3. Hunter-Gatherers traveled in groups of families called clans, searching for plants, seeds, fruits, and nuts, and for animals to kill and eat.

4. These early humans had no written language, but used oral language to organize their hunts. This proved essential to big-game hunts that were dangerous and complicated. Hunter-Gatherer Societies5. Hunter-Gatherers also created base camps, using natural shelters such as caves. The invention of fire ensured that no large animals, like bears, tried to share the caves with them.

Physical Geography Influenced the Way Early Humans Lived1. Wherever hunter-gatherers went, varied physical conditions required new hunting techniques, tools and clothing in order to survive.2. Colder climates called for warmer clothing made of animal fur, and stitched together with bone needles.A. Hunters made spear throwers, bows, and arrows and barbed spears to kill these fur-bearing animals.

Achievements of the Paleolithic Age1. Simple stone tools2. FIRE!3. Taming dogs for help in hunting4. Oral language5. Cave ArtA. Found in France, Spain, Africa, and AustraliaWhich could we say are the oldest?B. Art depicted scenes of wild animals and humansC. it is believed that cave are played a part in religious practices.

You are going to create your own cave drawings!

1. You must include time appropriate drawings: i.e.. use fire, bows and arrows, big game animals, domesticated dogs, stone tools, images of hunting and gathering in your cave drawings.

2. This will count as a grade, dont worry about artistic ability, just do your best!

The New Stone Age: 8000-4000BC1. The development of farming created a new age known as the Neolithic Age.

Characteristics of Neolithic Societies1. People began settling in stable communities built in good locations for planting and tending to crops year after year.

2. This production agriculture provided large amounts of food and resources. Characteristics of Neolithic Societies3. Because only a portion of community member had to do the farming, others could practice trades or provide servicesA. in other words, agriculture allowed for more civilized living.1. Manufacturing of pottery and other goods2. Development of economic and social classes3. A wider range of religious and social activitiesCharacteristics of Neolithic Societies4. Remember: hunter-gather societies did not simply disappear during the Neolithic Age, since it was still a suitable way of life in some environments, even today. (ex. Bushman of southern Africa)

Advances of the Neolithic Age that Led to Settled Communities1. Polishing of tools instead of chipping them2. Domestication of goats, sheep, pig and later cattle3. Weaving of cloth replaced animal skins as clothing4. Development of seed culture5. A division of labor6. These advances allowed for population increases, economic prosperity, and a distinctive cultural and spiritual life. How Archeologists Study Early Humans1. Locating and analyzing human remains, tools and other artifacts of early human life2. Procedures usedA. Carbon Dating to determine the approximate age of artifacts such as tolls jewelry and pieces of pottery.1. the amount of carbon in man-made materials decreases over time through a process called radioactive decay.2. Carbon levels determine the age of these organic materialsHow Archeologists Study Early Humans3. New archeological findings continue to raise questions about the true origins of humankind. Studies suggest that China may have been a place of human origin, not just Africa.