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Prehistory

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

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Prehistory

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  1. Prehistory

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

  3. Examining History: Prehistory • PRE-HISTORY- period before written history • Approximately 1.75 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)

  4. Development of Humans Homo Habilis • Latin for “handy man” • Lived in eastern Africa > spread north to Asia • fossilized human bones found with stone tools and animal fossils • Skulls – humans had a flatter head with a brain only 2/3 size; approximately 1.5 m tall • Built shelters of braches and collected bird eggs and wild berries for food; hunted wild pigs • Tools / weapons = rocks, braches, sharp stones • No clothes • Did not know how to use fire Homo Erectus • Latin for “upright man” • Discoveries of “Java Man” (Indonesia) and “Peking Man” (China” • Lived in Afria, 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, spears 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 belong

  5. Human evolution

  6. The Australopithecuses • “Lucy”

  7. Homo habilis • “Handy Man”

  8. Homo erectus

  9. The mysterious Neanderthal • The subject of one of prehistory’s most intriguing questions

  10. Comparing the Stone Ages PALEOLITHIC • small groups of 5-10 families • Nomadic to semi-nomadic • Closer relationships between bands of people • Fire • Cave art • Jewellery – teeth and bones NEOLITHIC • People abandoned semi-nomadic life and began farming • Agricultural revolution was a progression of the “Great Leap Forward” • planting of crops • domesticating of animals • Better tools & weapons

  11. c The peripatetic life

  12. Weapons & Technology PALEOLITHIC • Better hunting strategies due to co-operation and more lethal weapons • Better tools for skinning game, preparing food, sewing clothes Stored food over winter showing more planning • bow and arrow around 20 000 BCE NEOLITHIC • efficient tools: better weapons • Animal control – food, milk, skins, hair • Discovery of seeds – Farming!!! Dates, Barley, figs • Farming = more food=free time (if you are not the farmer) • leisure activities (art, music, sports, religion) • More food = bigger villages…CITIES grow

  13. Homo faber • Early stone tools • A. Homo habilis • B. Homo erectus • C. Neanderthal C. A. B.

  14. Extraordinary art!

  15. 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 for the first time people were expressing religious beliefs (rituals related to hunting magic; sacrifices of animals)

  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. Cave art (cont.) • What general theme is evident here?

  18. Cave artists • Ochre, fat, spit, pigment

  19. Paleolithic religion? • Bury dead, worship of fertility

  20. Eating • Who was the more productive? • The hunter? • Or the gatherer?

  21. Farming

  22. Settling down • Prerequisite to civilization • Mammoth bones, mud, skins

  23. Neolithic religious life

  24. 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 – leader Vs Worker: Is this good for Humans? • Development of alliances and cooperation • Marriage customs • Development of trade goods and routes • Religious rituals • People appreciated artistic beauty

  25. ALL THESE LEAD TO THE FIRST “CIVILIZATION”

  26. The Fertile Crescent • shaduf

  27. Found in ancient Palestine near the Dead sea. It was in existence by 8000 B.C.

  28. Jericho • Jordan River valley • c. 8000 BCE

  29. Found in Anatolia (Modern Day Turkey) Its walls enclosed 32 acres and up to 6,000 people. Grew many different crops and developed artisans and trade.

  30. Catal Hüyük • Modern Turkey • c. 6500 BCE

  31. Catal Hüyük (cont.)

  32. Aleppo is one of the oldest inhabited cities in history. Located in Modern-Day Syria; It has been occupied since around 5000 BCE. The main role of the city was as a trading place – between the Sea and Euphrates river

  33. STONEHENGE • Stonehenge is 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?

  34. Monument begun in the Neolithic age and finished in the Bronze Age Located on the Salisbury Plain in England What it may have looked like at completion

  35. 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

  36. An agricultural surplus led to the emergence of civilization, a complex culture where humans share common elements. Rise of cities Growth of Government. Usually monarchs (King and Queens) Artistic Activity Temples, Pyramids, Palaces, Painting, and Sculpture Emergence of Religion Priests take an active role. Use of Writing First was Cuneiform in Sumer New Social Structure Different social classes emerge Culture The way of life of a group of people

  37. Agricultural Surplus As farming technology improved people were able to grow the food they needed. Because of this not everyone had to work on providing food anymore and so people could do other things. Artisans People who made crafts such as textiles (fabrics), pottery, jewelry, etc. . . People could do what they were good at instead of having to farm. Specialization of Labor Because people could focus on one particular thing technology and skills improved. Storage of Food Pottery and other devices were invented as ways to grow extra food. This extra food was vital for feeding a growing population. Trade As artisans made goods they began to exchange goods with other villages, and later cities, who had different goods. This was a barter system. OBSIDIAN first big trade item

  38. The first writing?

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