Chapter 2: Prehistoric People        

·        People have been around about 2.3 million years.

·        Prehistory – period before writing developed.

·        Civilization – when people began to advance culturally and live in cities.

Section 1:The Paleolithic Age

·        Scientists have learned about how and why humans moved from Africa.

·        ~900.000 years ago, land bridges were created when a lot of the ocean water was in ice sheets during ice age.

·        Land bridges connected Africa with Europe and SW Asia.

·        People migrated (moved) to different areas mainly to follow food.

·        From 2.3 million to 10,000 years ago is known as Paleolithic (Old Stone) Age.

·        Most people got food from hunting and gathering.

Obtaining Food

·        People lived in bands (groups) and lived short lives.

·        They shared food and helped take care of each other.

·        Home territory – area where bands searched for food.

·        Bands had to move if food could not be found.

·        Women/Children gathered and men hunted small animals and sticks with hands.

Making Tools

·        Being able to make tools like sharp sticks and stones helped to make hunting easier.

·        Improved ability over time.

Making Fire

·        Fire allowed for cooking of meat, warmth, safety at night, easier hunting, and protection from animals.

Seeking Shelter

·        Dug pits, lived under bushes, and later people stayed in caves.

Making Clothing

·        Used animal skins for warmth.

·        Eventually developed sewing.

·        Allowed people to move to colder climates.

Developing Language

·        Over time started to communicate more and developed language.

·        This allowed for cooperation.

The Neanderthals

·         1^st people: Homo Habilus (skilled man), 2^nd people: Homo Erectus (upright man), 3^rd people: Homo Sapiens (man who thinks).

·        2 types of Homo Sapiens: Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons.

·        Neanderthals used pitfalls, built houses, and buried their dead.

Cro-Magnons

·        Skillful in using tools including: burin (chisel), axes, and spears.

·        Artists who created cave paintings and created other art.

·        Groups cooperated and hunted together.

Section 2: The Neolithic Age

·        Neolithic means New Stone Age.

·        Start of farming to get food is called Neolithic Revolution.

Farmers and Herders

·        Learning how to grow food and herd animals was important.

·        Probably discovered grain could be planted and harvested by dropping seeds they had gathered and realizing seeds could be planted.

·        Different grains have developed this way around world.

·        Probably first herded animals when caught and fenced in enough so they did not have to kill them all.

·        Animals eventually lost fear and became domesticated (tame).

·        This occurred with different animals in different places.

·        Farming and herding got more food so population grew and lived longer.

Early Villages

·        When able to produce food instead of following it started to settle.

·        Earliest villages started around 8000 BC.

·        People lived in house made of wood and mud bricks around pastures and fields.

Specialization

·        Because people had enough food some started specialize in other occupations (potters, weavers, metal workers).

·        This lead to easier lives for all.

Government

·        Started to have rules about land ownership.

·        Started to have chiefs to settle disputes.

Religion

·        Chief often a priest.

·        Most prayed to Earth Mother who controlled forces of nature.