What is “History?”

“Peoples’ stories collectively, comparatively, selectively told.”

Traditions and Encounters

“the present is the past rolled up for action, and the past is the present unrolled for understanding” (Will Durant)

Tools of the HistorianTools of the Historian

• DocumentsDocuments– Sacred history – myths, oral accountsSacred history – myths, oral accounts

– Archaeological discovery – fossils, artifactsArchaeological discovery – fossils, artifacts

– Written records- “recorded” (History)Written records- “recorded” (History)

– Scientific theory and evidence—evolution, DNA Scientific theory and evidence—evolution, DNA and Carbon 14 and Carbon 14

• Human presence (or “natural” history) – Human presence (or “natural” history) – living communities, like the Kungliving communities, like the Kung

Tools of the HistorianTools of the Historian

• TimeTime– ChronologyChronology

•Cyclical vs. Linear Cyclical vs. Linear •BCE (Before the Common Era) – CE BCE (Before the Common Era) – CE

(Common Era)(Common Era)

– Periodization (Prehistory/History)Periodization (Prehistory/History)•Categories of Time – Paleolithic, NeolithicCategories of Time – Paleolithic, Neolithic

• Place – Geography and MapsPlace – Geography and Maps•Mercator ProjectionMercator Projection•Peters Projection-T&EPeters Projection-T&E

MAPS

Can the way we picture the world convey meaning—can it be propaganda?

“it is clear that what happens on and near Earth at the beginning of the second cosmic year will depend very much on the scientific wisdom and the distinctively human sensitivity of mankind”

Carl Sagan, The Dragons of Eden

The Question of ProgressThe Question of Progress

• ““There is no one inevitable path to There is no one inevitable path to today’s world because it is impossible today’s world because it is impossible to characterize today’s world to characterize today’s world simplistically. There always was and simplistically. There always was and is considerable variety among human is considerable variety among human societies—though this may be societies—though this may be decreasing, it is still there.”decreasing, it is still there.”

• Agree or disagree?Agree or disagree?

Cover SlideCover Slide

Objective I: The Emergence of Human Communities

Focus Questions:

What made humans human?

What can we learn from hunting-gathering societies?

Why agriculture?

5-6 millionyears ago

4 3 2 1 470,000yrs.ago

125,000yrs. ago

Gorilla

What does it mean to be What does it mean to be human?human?

• Genetically, humans are Genetically, humans are 97% the same as 97% the same as chimpanzees, 96% the chimpanzees, 96% the same as gorillassame as gorillas

• Physical traits: bipedal, Physical traits: bipedal, opposable thumbs, larger opposable thumbs, larger brainsbrains

• IntelligenceIntelligence

• Social and cultural Social and cultural developmentsdevelopments

• Relationship to our Relationship to our environmentenvironment

Hominid = “human-like species”

Fossilized Fossilized footprintsfootprints

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Fossilized footprintsArchaeologist Mary Leakey (shown at top of photo) found these remarkable footprints of a hominid adult and child at Laetoli, Tanzania. The pair had walked through fresh volcanic ash that solidified after being buried by a new volcanic eruption. Dated to 3.5 million years ago, the footprints are the oldest evidence of bipedalism yet found. (SPL/Photo Researchers, Inc.)

What Made Humans Human?

Hominid Evolution: Three Developments-

-Bipedalism

-Larger Brain

-Voicebox

LUCY

Well, if it isn’t the dawn of civilization!

“What about your precious opposablethumbs now!?”

Perspective I: Human Biological Evolution

LUCY

NEANDERTAL

URUMCHI MUMMYhttp://www.becominghuman.org/

MIGRATIONSMIGRATIONS

• Out of AfricaOut of Africa

• ““We are all Africans under the skin.”We are all Africans under the skin.”

New York Times Headline:Skull Supports Theory of Human Migration By JOHN NOBLE WILFORDPublished: January 12, 2007

“The migrants appeared to have arrived at their new homes in Asia and Europe with the distinct and unmodified heads of Africans.”

36,000 years old

Global spread of hominids and Global spread of hominids and Homo SapiensHomo Sapiens

Why is homo sapiens the Why is homo sapiens the only species of human only species of human today?today?““The only good caveman is a dead caveman” –The only good caveman is a dead caveman” –

aggression and war aggression and war

““Make love not war” – reproductive and Make love not war” – reproductive and family unitsfamily units

““We ate them out of house and home” – We ate them out of house and home” – competition for available resourcescompetition for available resources

““Together, wherever we go” – co-evolution of Together, wherever we go” – co-evolution of language with know-how and sociability.language with know-how and sociability.

Saharan rock artAn unknown artist painted the dynamic scene of giraffes on a Saharan rock in what is now Libya in 5000 B.C.E. This was from a rainy era when hunters could view majestic herds of game. (Robert Estall Photography)

Saharan rock Saharan rock artart

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

“Sympathetic Magic”

What is the Paleolithic Era?What is the Paleolithic Era?

• ““Old Stone Age”Old Stone Age”

• From the first hominid to From the first hominid to approximately 7000 BCEapproximately 7000 BCE

Characteristics of Characteristics of Paleolithic Paleolithic (Old Stone Age) (Old Stone Age) SocietiesSocieties

• Hunting and gathering (nomadic)Hunting and gathering (nomadic)

• Isolation (Small bands)Isolation (Small bands)

• Solidarity, equality and Solidarity, equality and communalismcommunalism

• Gender rolesGender roles

• Limited specializationLimited specialization

• Early religion: animism—worship of Early religion: animism—worship of humans and naturehumans and nature

Chauvet CaveOn December 18, 1994, this cave in southern France was discovered by Jean-Marie Chauvet, a French official. It contains the oldest and best preserved prehistoric cave paintings; more than three hundred paintings were found of animals that inhabited the Stone Age world, including panthers, cave bears, and mammoths. This black-painted panel in the Chauvet Cave shows horses, rhinoceroses, and wild oxen. (Jean Clottes/Ministere de la Culture)

Chauvet Chauvet CaveCave

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Kung PeopleKung People

Humorous takes onPaleolithic life…

Role of WomenRole of Women

• What roles did What roles did women play?women play?

• Equality?Equality?

Mother EarthMother Earth

“I still don’t see what harm could come from allowingmales to possess weapons.”

Why Agricultural Why Agricultural Revolutions?Revolutions?

““History followed different courses for differentHistory followed different courses for differentpeople because of differences among peoples’people because of differences among peoples’environments, not their biology.” environments, not their biology.”

Jared DiamondJared DiamondMyths about FarmingMyths about Farming

• The first farmers made a conscious decision The first farmers made a conscious decision to grow crops.to grow crops.

• There is a sharp break between nomadic There is a sharp break between nomadic hunting-gathering and farming.hunting-gathering and farming.

• Food producers manage the land more Food producers manage the land more actively than hunter-gatherers.actively than hunter-gatherers.

Why the Agricultural Transition?Why the Agricultural Transition?

The decline in the availability of wild foods.The decline in the availability of wild foods.

The increase in the availability of domesticable wild The increase in the availability of domesticable wild plants.plants.

The cumulative development of technologies on which The cumulative development of technologies on which farming depends.farming depends.

The two-way link between rise in human population and The two-way link between rise in human population and rise in food production.rise in food production.

The greater advantages of farmers in the competition for The greater advantages of farmers in the competition for resources with hunter-gatherers.resources with hunter-gatherers.

““Agriculture is the great dividing line in human behavior” Agriculture is the great dividing line in human behavior” – Why?– Why?

Domesticated PlantsDomesticated Plants

• There are 200,000 wild speciesThere are 200,000 wild species

• 12 domesticated plants account for 12 domesticated plants account for 80% of the tonnage of all crops80% of the tonnage of all crops

• Cereals: wheat, corn, barley, rice, Cereals: wheat, corn, barley, rice, sorghumsorghum

• Pulses: soybeanPulses: soybean

• Tubers: potato, manioc, sweet potatoTubers: potato, manioc, sweet potato

• Fruit: bananaFruit: banana

Domesticated AnimalsDomesticated Animals

• 14 large mammals out of 148 14 large mammals out of 148 possibilities!possibilities!

• Big 5: Sheep, cow, goatBig 5: Sheep, cow, goat

Pig, horsePig, horse

• Camels, alpacas, llamaCamels, alpacas, llama

• Donkey, reindeer,Donkey, reindeer,

• Water buffalo, yak, Bali cattle and oxWater buffalo, yak, Bali cattle and ox

Origins and early spread of Origins and early spread of agriculture and pastoralismagriculture and pastoralism

Characteristics of Neolithic Characteristics of Neolithic SocietiesSocieties

(New Stone Age)(New Stone Age)How many of these are the How many of these are the

result of dependence on result of dependence on agriculture?agriculture?• Domestication of plants and animals required a Domestication of plants and animals required a

sedentary existence.sedentary existence.• Population increases.Population increases.• Food surplusesFood surpluses• New Technology New Technology • Specialization of occupationsSpecialization of occupations• New social institutions:New social institutions: The neolithic villageThe neolithic village The nomadic clan-tribeThe nomadic clan-tribe• Nomad-sedentary ConflictNomad-sedentary Conflict• CitiesCities

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

3000BCE

2000BCE

1000BCE

500 BCE

Population (millions)

Most agricultural civilizations Most agricultural civilizations were patriarchalwere patriarchalCommon attributes:Common attributes:

• Men dominate(d) economic, political, Men dominate(d) economic, political, and social lifeand social life

• Men controll(ed) property and made all Men controll(ed) property and made all decisions concerning families—decisions concerning families—including marriage of childrenincluding marriage of children

• Marriage and inheritance were Marriage and inheritance were patrilinealpatrilineal

Pottery and TextilesPottery and Textiles

New Religious Beliefs – New Religious Beliefs – Fertility Cults, the Fertility Cults, the “Goddess”“Goddess”

Neolithic goddessMany versions of a well-nourished pregnant female figure were found in the Neolithic ruins of Catal Huyuk, a large town in central Anatolia (modern Turkey). Here she is supported by twin leopards whose tails curve over her shoulders. To those who inhabited the city this figure likely represented fertility and power over nature. (C.M. Dixon)

Neolithic Neolithic goddessgoddess

Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

New Religious Beliefs – Fertility Cults, the “Goddess”

New attitudes towards Nature

Agriculture is NEW!Agriculture is NEW!

• The first hominids appeared The first hominids appeared 4 million 4 million years agoyears ago

• People discovered agriculture only People discovered agriculture only 9 9 thousand years agothousand years ago

• 95 %95 % of the time humans have inhabited of the time humans have inhabited the earth, we have been hunter/gatherersthe earth, we have been hunter/gatherers