Download Human Origins in Africa

Human Origins in Africa
• Archaeologists- scientists who study ancient
settlements
• Anthropologists- scientists who study ancient
culture
• Paleontologists- scientists who study fossils
Footprints Found
• 1970’s Mary Leakey finds prehistoric
footprints in Tanzania (East Africa) preserved
in volcano ash
• Australopithecines- form of hominid that is
upright walking and had opposable thumbs.
Discovery of Lucy
• Donald Johanson explores Ethiopia, and finds
a skeleton of an adult hominid (3.5 million
years old)
• Named Lucy after “Lucy in the Sky with
Diamonds” song
Stone Age Begins
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Mastery of fire, development of language, and impressive technological
advancements
Paleolithic Age (Old Stone)- 2.5 million years ago until 8,000 BC (hunter-gatherers).
Much during the Ice Ages.
Neolithic Age (New Stone)- 8,000 BC until 3,000 BC (agriculturalists, artisans,
innovators)
Australopithecines replaced by by homo habilis (man of skill). They used primitive
tools to crack bones and open carcasses. These guys were later replaced by homo
erectus (upright man). More intelligent and adaptable species who were
inventors. Also the first hominids to migrate from Africa. They were the first to
use fire and develop a spoken language
Modern Humans
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Homo erectus develops into homo sapien (wise man). Had larger brains, but
otherwise looked similar (cro-magnons).
Neanderthal- powerful people who had religious beliefs and were more
sophisticated than the “man with club” image. Found in Germany, they were
resourceful enough to survive the Ice Age winters. Mysteriously disappeared
about 30,000 years ago.
Cro-Magnons- arrived 40,000 years ago, and are identical to modern humans.
About 5.5 feet tall, and migrated to Europe and Asia from Africa. They made new
tools, and were better hunters. More advanced language increased
communication, which helped them exterminate Neanderthals.
Humans Try to Control Nature
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Nomads- ppl who move from place to place foraging. Depends on migrations of
animals
Hunter-gatherers- depend on animals and crops
Art in Paleolithic Age
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Made necklaces of bear claws, seashells, and lion teeth
Created intricate cave paintings
Beginnings of Agriculture
• Neolithic Revolution- agricultural revolution about 10,000
years ago. Movement from food-gathering to food-producing
• Early farming methods: slash-and-burn- cut trees/grasses and
burn them to clear a field. Ashes fertilized soil. Would move
around from year to year.
Domestication of Animals
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Tamed horses, goats, dogs, and pigs. Helped travel and also provided an additional
source of food
Villages Grow
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Farming develops in many places (Africa around the Nile, China around the Yellow
River, Mexico and in Central America around the Amazon, and Peru in the Andes
Mountains.
CATAL HUYUK
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Located in Turkey
Home to 5-6 thousand people who lived in houses that looked like a honeycomb
Showed the benefits of settled life b/c people were able to specialize
Some setbacks- invasion, fire, drought
Displayed how villages could lead to cities (trading centers)
Civilization (Ur)
Villages grow into Cities
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Economic changes- improved irrigation led to surplus of food, and allowed some ppl to
specialize in other trades. Artisans, farmers, and others needed a place to trade their
goods. Two inventions (wheel and sail) helped increase trading.
Social changes- new economy changes social structure. People begin to believe in gods
of rain, wind, and other natural forces.
How civilization develops
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First civilization develops in Sumer, Mesopotamia (Iraq)
Civilization needs 5 traits (advanced cities, specialized workers, complex institutions,
record keeping, and advanced technology)
Cities aren’t reliant on population, but on trading
Specialized workers allowed a variety of goods to be traded
Complex institutions were necessary to rule people (government, religion, etc.)
Record keeping becomes important to write laws, collect taxes (Sumerian cuneiform)
How civilization develops (cont.)
• Cuneiform replaced pictographs. It was typically written on clay tablets by
scribes
• Improved technology was needed to solve emerging
-Bronze Age: around 3,000 BC, Sumerian artisans melt copper and tin to make
bronze, which is more efficient in tools and weapons.
Ur
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City in Sumer on the banks of the Euphrates River (Iraq)
30,000 ppl lived there, and social status was obvious
Trading revolved around barter, which is trading without currency
Religious pyramid temple called ziggurat (“mountain of God”)
Specialization allowed for food surplus, and variety of goods for trading