Prehistory
We
Are Here...
How Do We Study Prehistory?
•Role of the Archeologist?
•Role of the Anthropologist?
•Carbon Dating, Etc.?
How Do We Know What
We Know About the Past?
Where Did It All Begin?
An African Genesis?
First Humans Map
•Africa
Why were they
nomadic?
•Need for food
•Growth of Groups
•Weather
•Migration of animals
•Donald Johanson
•“Lucy”
Lucy
•Australopithecus
Africanus
•Description…
•Importance?
Extra Credit Lucy Project
• Go see Lucy at the Museum of Natural
Science
• Write a 4 paragraph essay on the exhibit
– 1st paragraph: when you went, day, time
– 2nd paragraph: What is Lucy?
– 3rd paragraph: Why is Lucy important?
– 4th paragraph: Review the exhibit
A Look at (Possible) Evolution
Homo
Habilis
Cavemen as They May Have
Lived...
Paleolithic Age
(2.5 Million to 10,000 B.C.)
•Nomadic Scavengers
•Crude Weapons
•Figured Out Fire
•Developed Language
•Domesticated Plants/Animals
•Developed Rituals
•Created Art
•Much, Much More…
Paleolithic Age
(2.5 Million to 12,000 Years Ago)
•Weapons
•Fire
•Language
•Domestication
•Rituals
•Art
Homo Erectus
Homo Sapiens
•Reconstruction of the
Famous “Ice Man”
•Found in 1991
•5300 Years Old!
•Describe Him…on
Paper!
Why Did Humans Reign
Supreme?
•Upright Posture
•Prehensile Thumb
•Superior Brain
•Ability to Speak
•Problem Solving Ability
Why Create “Art”?
•Early Human Art
•Why Create Art?
Stone Tools
•A Hand Axe
•How Made?
•How Used?
Neolithic Age
(10,000 B.C. to 4,000 B.C.)
•“Neolithic Revolution” (or
Agricultural Revolution
•New Crops
•New Tools (Sail, Wheel and
Plow)
•Specialization
•Division of Labor
•Growth of Towns, Cities
•4000 B.C. = 85 million Pop.
Civilization
An advanced state of human society,
in which a high level of culture,
science, and government has been
reached.
Social Institutions
A clustering of values, roles, and
expected behaviors that develop
around a certain fundamental need.
Fundamental Needs
Need Institution?
•New members ?
•Train members ?
•Provide goods/services ?
•Law and order ?
•Meaning to life ?
Which Is MOST Important?
Civilization Characteristics
•Advanced Cities
•Specialized Workers
•Record Keeping
•Advanced Technology
•Complex Social Institutions
Which Is MOST Important?
What Were the RECIPES
for Survival?
Religion Politics
Economy Environment
Culture Society
Intellectual Thought Stay Tuned…