Ch. 1 Sec. 1 OutlineWorld Studies

Before HistoryThe time before the written word is

called prehistory. It is difficult for historians to know

what happened before writing because there wasn’t a conscious effort to save it.

A lot of what we know about prehistory are based on theories developed by looking at artifacts.

How we know about prehistory?

Archaelology

AnthropologyStudying the

objects left by humans to determine how they lived.

Dig in the earth to uncover artifacts like tools, weapons, art and housing

Studying human life and culture by studying fossils (surviving biological remains) in order to create a picture of their daily lives.

How do they do it?To locate artifacts and fossils, archaeologists and anthropologist excavate at historical sites around the world to uncover fossil remains, buildings, burial grounds, and any other object that can inform them of life and society of that time.

Social and Military

Bones, skin, plant seedsTells how people lived Tells how people ate

pottery, tools, and weapons

Hand Axe250,000 years old

Flute35,000 years old

Seeds found in ancient toilet

Pottery and other cooking tools

If you were an archaeologist or anthropologist:If you discovered this, what would it tell you?

How do they date the artifacts?Knowing when something is

from is vital to understand history. If you date it incorrectly, it could have a major impact on history.

RADIOCARBON DATING – all living things absorb radioactive carbon (C-14) from the atmosphere. When it dies, it slowly loses C-14. By measuring the amount left in an object, you can determine its age (up to 50,000 years old) AKA – Carbon Dating

Dating older objectsIf an object is older than 50,000 years,

scientist can make a relatively precise measurement using thermo luminescence. In this technique, scientist measure the soil around a fossil and measure the amount of light given off by the electrons trapped.

Used with pottery, stones, gems, etc…

Additional ways to acquire info:Microscopic and biological analysis

of organic remains, left on items can give scientist even more information. For example, blood found on a tool can tell us what type of animals were alive and provide DNA for humans. Organic remains on a dinosaur tooth can tell you what the dino ate.

Early DevelopmentHominids were humanlike creatures. They

walked upright and changed slowly over time. They existed millions of years ago

Early HominidsLucy - Australopithecus

The earliest hominid discovered was Lucy. About 3.5 million years oldSmall head (small brain cavity)No evidence of use of tools

Homo Habilis – Handy Human2.5 to 1.6 million years

agoMay have used tools

(handy)

Homo Erectus – Upright Human1.8 million to 100,000

years agoArms and legs in

modern human proportion

Probably the first to leave Africa

Homo Sapiens:Around 200,000 years ago, Homo Sapiens, or

“wise human” roamed the earthCharateristics of Homo Sapiens:

Larger brainMastered fireTwo early humans came from Homo Sapiens:

NeanderthalsGerman orginsLived between 100,000 and 30,000 B.C.Located in Turkey and other European countriesMade clothes

Homo Sapiens Sapiens•“wise, wise human”•First to have an anatomy similar to people today•First appeared in Africa between 150,000 to 200,000 years ago.•“Out-of-Africa” theory has Homo Sapiens Sapiens moving to other parts of the world

How did people get here?“Out-of-Africa” theory – about 100,000 years

ago, Homo Sapiens Sapiens left Africa for other parts of the world. They replaced the previous populations that are no longer around. AKA – Replacement Theory

Multiregional model – development from earlier hominids to anatomically (physically) modern humans in different locations in Africa, Asia, and Europe.

Homo Sapiens Sapiens replace Neanderthals

30,000 B.C., Neanderthals had been replaced by Homo Sapiens Sapiens (possibly due to conflict).

Homo Sapiens Sapiens begin to move about the world, populating, and establishing roots for our existance.

All human beings today belong to the same subgroup of humans. Whether you are European, Asian, Austrailian, African, or Aboriginies (original inhabitants) we all come from the same orgins.

The Paleolithic AgeOne of the basic features that distinguishes

humans from other species is the ability to make tools.

The term Paleolithic Age is used to designate the early period of human history (approximately 2,500,000 B.C. to 10,000 B.C.) in which humans used simple stone tools.

SurvivalPeople survived on hunting and gathering for

their daily food.Because of this, they had a close relationship

with their environment and understood what animals to hunt and plants to eat.

PlantsWild NutsBerriesFruits

Wild GrainsGreen Plants

AnimalsBuffaloHorsesBison

ReindeerFish

Shellfish

Life in the Paleolithic Age:Using stone tools allowed for early

humans to survive.They used hard stones, like flint, to chip

away at another stone, to shape it for use. Hand axes were the most common.

Early humans also figured out how to attach a wooden handle to a stone to make it easier to use.

They also attached poles to spear points, that placed in fire to make harder, to make weapons that could kill large animals.

Improved Technology:As more and more generations passed, Paleolithic

hunters developed better tools.The invention of the spear, and later the bow and

arrow, made hunting much easier.Harpoons and fishhooks, made of bone, increased

the catch of fish.Sharp tools could be used to cut up plants, dig

roots, and cut branches to build simple shelters.They used tools to scrape the hides of animals for

clothing and shelter.There is evidence that by the end of the Paleolithic

Era, bone needles were used to create nets, sew hides, and weave baskets.

Nomads:Since the humans in the Paleolithic Age were

hunters and gatherers, they had to always find food (they didn’t grow food). They followed the food (animal migrations and vegetation cycles).

They were nomads (didn’t have a set home – moved from place to place to survive).

Roles of Men and Women in Paleolithic Age:

The main job of both men and women was to find food.

Women gathered nuts, berries, roots, and grains.Women bore and raised the children. Teaching the

children what was edible.Women trapped small animals and kept the camp

safe.Men were the hunters, going far distances looking

for game to kill.It is believed that both men and women held equal

responsibility for survival.It is likely they made joint decisions.

Adapting to Survive:To avoid cold, many Paleolithic humans found

shelter in caves.Others learned how to make simple

structures made of wood and animal hide.If wood was scarce, they might use large

mammoth bones as the structure support.

Fire, Fire, Fire!!!The use of fire provided light, heat, and

protection.Homo Erectus were the first people who learned

how to make fire (500,000 years ago).Fire was also used to hunt, scaring wild animals

to run towards the hunters.Fire allowed for food to be cooked. Cooked food

tasted better, lasted longer, and was easier to chew and digest.

Because of fire, and cooked food, nutrition improved.

Fire and Ice!!!The ability to make fire became crucial to

survival during the Ice Age.About 100,000 B.C. started the most recent

Ice Age, ending about 8,000 B.C.Sheets of thick ice covered large parts of

Europe, Asia, and North America.Sea levels lowered and people were able to

cross land bridges to other continents.

Cave Art:Art is everywhere.Paleolithic humans depicted art scenes on cave walls.

They would burn animal fat to see in the dark caves.Lascaux, France, Altamira, Spain, southern France are

some of the most famous examples of Cave Art.Artist painted with their fingers and twigs. They also

blew paint through hollow reeds.Mixed mineral ores with animal fats to make red,

yellow, and black paint.Very few humans appear in the cave art, mostly

animals. When humans do appear, they usually appear as stick figures.

Some believe cave art was to help appease the gods and help in the hunt. Others think they were just for pleasure.

Examples of Cave Art:Lascaux, France

Altamira, Spain

Discovered in 1940

A storm uprooted a tree that revealed a cave

Children playing nearby discovered the paintings inside

A little girl discovered a cave on her grandfather’s farm in 1879

Evidence that the paintings were done at different times

Earlier art was crude and the later are more detailed

In 1994, Jean-Marie Chauvet, and his friends, discovered paintings in a cave

There paintings were nearly twice as old as the others and more advanced

Southern France

A little girl discovered a cave on her grandfather’s farm in 1879

Evidence that the paintings were done at different times

Earlier art was crude and the later are more detailed

A little girl discovered a cave on her grandfather’s farm in 1879

Evidence that the paintings were done at different times

Earlier art was crude and the later are more detailed