Examining History: Prehistory

1. Examining History: Prehistory • PRE-HISTORY- period before written history • Approximately 2 million years ago, earliest people first began using small pieces of rock as tools • Massive development of humans over years in 4 major groups:1) Homo Habilis (2 million years ago)2) Homo Erectus (1 million years ago)3) Neanderthal (100 000 years ago) 4) Cro-Magnon (50 000 years ago)

2. Development of Humans Homo Erectus • Latin for “upright man”Discoveries of “Java Man” (Indonesia) and “Peking Man” (China” • Lived in Africa, south Europe, Asia • Skulls- humans had long, flat and sharply angled at back (between ape and human head) • Thighbone- identical to modern humans > walk upright • Charred animals bones found = they used fire to cook • Belief that homo erectus was a descendant of homo habilis • Make fire= first by coals or volcanic ash; later by friction= made life easier as they could survive in colder climates • Tools / weapons= bones, rocks, blades for carving, Homo Sapiens • Latin for “reasoning man” • 250 000 years ago= emergence of Homo Sapiens who evolved from homo erectus is the species to which all modern day people descended Homo Habilis • Latin for “handy man” - first hominid to make tools • fossilized human bones found with stone tools and animal fossils • Skulls –a flatter head with a brain only 2/3 size of modern human; approximately 1.5 m tall • Built shelters of braches and collected bird eggs and wild berries for food; scavenger – not a hunter • Tools / weapons = rocks, braches, sharp stones • No clothes • Did not know how to use fire

4. Neanderthals vs Cro Magnon CRO MAGNON • South France- clearing away earth from back of a rock shelter locally known as Cro-Magnon • First appeared in Europe 30 000 years ago following ice age • Brain as large as modern day human; approx. 2 metres tall with modern “faces” • Tools= slim, sharp edge blades, chisels, knives, spearheads, lamps (stone bowl with animal grease and lit fur or moss) • Animals bones and teeth used to make musical instruments, jewellery • Cave paintings, Fierce warriors - Wiped out Neanderthals NEANDERATHAL • First discovered in Neander Valley- Germany • 6 cm taller than homo erectus; thick eyebrow ridge • Tools= knives, spears made from chipped rock • Animals hides worn as clothes • Lived in caves kept warm with fire • First to bury the dead (graves with bodies carefully prepared

5. Great Leap Forward • 35 000 years ago when changes brought about innovation, creativity to humans (Homo Sapiens Sapiens) 2 FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES OCCURRED: • Development of modern anatomy • Beginning of innovative behaviour EFFECTS • Production of crafted tools and more sophisticated weapons • development of trade for raw materials and ornaments • Emergence of sculptures, paintings and crafted objects that showcased beauty and religion

6. Living in the Stone Age

7. “Lithos” = stone Neolithic Age Greek “neo” means “new” Neolithic Revolution occurred between 9000 – 4000 BCE Paleolithic Age • Greek “paleo” means “old” • Upper Paleolithic age was 50 000 – 10 000 years ago

8. Origins PALEOLITHIC • The original human society – virtually all paleolithic societies shared similar traits • We evolved to be food gatherers, hunters and fishers • small groups (bands) of 5-10 families – largest tribe would be ~ 80-100 people • Nomadic to semi-nomadic – followed animal herds • Closer relationships between bands based on shared language and customs

9. Origins: Neolithic Society NEOLITHIC – New Stone Age • About 10,000 YA people started to abandon semi-nomadic life and begin farming • Shift from food gathering to FOOD PRODUCING – change in culture • planting of crops & animal husbandry • Why? Mystery – no one really knows • End of glaciation – warmer climate & more grasslands and plants • Begins with the planting of wild grains (barley and wheat) and societies would continue to hunt and gather • As tools & weapons and knowledge of plants and animals advanced, so did human society – excess food could be stored = larger societies • Also farming is more efficient – 16 km2 of farm land supports 100 people, whereas only 1 person can be supported by H-G alone

10. Neolithic Tools Digging stick Neolithic farming tools Sickle

11. Paleolithic society: Leadership & social organization • Very simple – societies formed around a “headman” – successful hunter • Many societies attribute spiritual powers to such a person • Women, children and bachelor males under his protection & guidance • “Marriage” = loosely attached pair-bonds • Connection between sexual intercourse & birth not well understood • “Sexual rights” more a matter of privilege than about parenting • Children belonged to the community

12. Neolithic Society: Leadership & social organization • As society grows it becomes more complex – new rules are needed • Society also needs protection – target for others needing food • “Warrior King” still important, but now that person will need to make wise laws and judge fairly • More occupations needed – society more hierarchical – class system emerges based on land ownership • Agriculture also more dependent on weather – shaman or priest also becomes important

13. Paleolithic religion • Death was ever present reality for early humans • Idea of a life force that is in every living thing – Animism • Animism – everything can have a spirit: rocks, animals, rivers and lakes and people • Spirits are not always nice – most are dangerous • Rituals were created to communicate with spirits – shamans would have a special ability to do this • Spirits could be influenced by “pre-enacting” – ritualistic war dances, rain dances – maybe even drawing on cave walls

14. Caves at Lascaux [lass co] • Painting at Lascaux Caves (south central France) found in 15 000 BCE • Painters used irregularities in cave walls to add a 3-D effect to figures • Paintings portray an awe and reverence towards animals which shows that perhaps for the first time people were expressing religious beliefs (rituals related to hunting magic; sacrifices of animals)

15. Lascaux Cave painting

16. Venus of Willendorf • Small sculptures such as the Venus of Willendorf were common to the Paleolithic Age • Sculpture features exaggerated curves (large breasts and wide hips) on female figure • Venus figurines are symbolic of the importance of fertility of a mother goddess

17. Neolithic Religion • Understanding of agriculture lead to more complex ideas of religion • Humans can now “create” things • Spirits take on human form – polytheistic gods • Priestly class emerges to perform rituals to appease and summon the aid of the gods • A seed is planted in a womb (soil) lead to deeper understanding of sex – religion now strictly regulates sexual practices as they lead to the creation of new life

18. Some form of Human sacrifice was common

19. STONEHENGE • Located on Salisbury Plain in England • Created 2800-1500 BCE • Stonehenge is an example of a Neolithic megalith (megalith = Greek for “big stones”) • Exact purpose is unknown: religious rituals, agricultural markers or astronomical observatories?

20. Mystery of Stonehenge • Stonehenge was built in 3 major stages over 1300 years (tribal people, Beaker people, Battle Axe folk people • Megaliths stones approx. 45 t and Heel Stone is 31 t • Great debate over the positioning of the stones • stones reflect an understanding of astronomy and mathematics (positions reflect sunrise, eclipses of sun and moon • stones could be a religious ritual to sun or moon gods • Others believe stones were built to show changing seasons for agriculture

21. Two different ideas of God Agricultural society Nomadic Animal Herders • Moved around from pasture to pasture • Not connected to the earth • Greater reverence for the Male principal – the great Father – from whose seed the tribe descended • Through this descent pattern, nomadic societies could determine their social ties & relations • Example: Aryan nomads (India, Persia, Greece) & Semitic nomads (Hebrews / Israelites, Arab tribes) • God is patriarchal • Great Goddess is mother earth • Earth = womb, which is female • Male principal is supportive • All agricultural peoples worshipped an earth goddess ( Inana – Sumeria, Ishtar – Babylon, Isis – Egypt • God is a woman

22. Weapons & Technology NEOLITHIC • Improved tools which helped farm and make weapons and tools: sickle, axe, hoe • Domestication of animals to do manual work and the planting of crops freed people from the pursuit of food • leisure activities (art, music, sports, religion) PALEOLITHIC • Excellent big-game hunters due to advances in weapons & strategies • Better tools for skinning game, preparing food, sewing clothes • Cro-Magnons stored food over winter showing more planning • Bow and arrow around invented about 20 000 BCE

25. Major Innovations of the Stone Age • More complex human societies (from semi-nomadic to permanent cities; domestication of animals; leisure time) • Development of social hierarchies • Development of alliances and cooperation • Marriage customs • Development of trade goods and routes • Religious rituals • Refined sense of artistic beauty

26. ALL THESE LEAD TO THE FIRST “CIVILIZATION”

27. Characteristics of Civilization • Civilization: Comes from the Latin root civilis = civil • Civil is related to the Latin work civis = citizen & civitas = city • So, civilization refers to people who live in cities

28. Centralized Government • Society more complex • Laws needed to regulate society • Judges needed to adjudicate disputes • Leadership & power usually vested in a king • King – divine right & hereditary title

29. Advanced / intensive Agriculture • Agricultural intensity = land must be more productive to support those who are not farmers or food producers • Irrigation, building dikes, reclaiming land and developing a calendar

30. Specialized Occupations • Complex society = more specialized needes • Food surpluses allows for some to pursue other occupations • Trades: weavers, carpenters, bakers, brewers, teachers etc… • Also, artists and musicians

31. Class Structure • With private property of land came inequality • Some would accumulate more land and “hire” others to work it • As land became scarce, and land passed down through inheritance, people were born into a station in life with little or no chance to change • Over time, land became concentrated in the hands of the few (10-20% of the population) and the many (80-90%) had to work for the few • Those who owned land (nobility) had the power and the right to make the rules

32. Merchants and Trade • Merchants: new class who produce nothing but arrange for the exchange of goods • Some would specialize in a particular area of trade (spice, textiles, precious stones & metals) • Trade lead to the development of currency

33. Writing & Science • Writing is essential for civilization • Laws need to be written, records need to be kept, messages communicated and knowledge preserved • Also a system of weights and measure and calculating was also needed – leads to the development of mathematics

34. Organized Religion • Religion is the “glue” of civilization – it is necessary to keep the whole thing together • Civilization requires that many thousands of people work together (often with great inequality) – a common purpose is needed • Religion legitimizes the use of power and authority of government, • Also religion instills a divine sense of morality = social order • Religious institutions often provided basic education