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An Overview of Prehistory: Major Accomplishments from the Paleolithic to Neolithic Periods

This overview of prehistory explores significant milestones from about 4.5 million years ago to 3700 BCE. It examines the evolution of early human societies, including tool manufacture, communication, and the domestication of plants and animals leading to agriculture. Key periods such as the Paleolithic, characterized by hunting, gathering, and remarkable art, and the Neolithic, marked by food production and permanent settlements, are discussed. Insights into human evolution and the emergence of complex social orders enrich our understanding of early civilizations.

matthew-randall
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An Overview of Prehistory: Major Accomplishments from the Paleolithic to Neolithic Periods

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  1. Prehistory An Overview

  2. The prehistoric period • c. 4.5 MYA-3700 BCE • Major accomplishments • Tool manufacture and use • Communication • Verbal • Written? • Domestication of animals • And plants? • Finally: agriculture • The “First Wave”

  3. The Paleolithic period • “old stone age” • c. 500,000 BCE - c. 6000 BCE • Basic features • Hunting and gathering • Remarkable art (and religion?) • Simple tools of chipped stone • Simple shelters • Fire • c. 150,000 BCE? • Language

  4. The Neolithic period • Began in Middle East around 6000 BCE • to c. 3700 BCE • Basic features • Food production • Polished stone tools • and weapons? • More settled, less nomadic lifestyles • “permanent” villages • Population increases • Development of a more complex (and satisfying?) social order

  5. Human evolution

  6. The Australopithecines • “Lucy”

  7. Homo habilis • “Handy Man”

  8. Homo erectus

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

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

  11. c The peripatetic life

  12. Extraordinary art!

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

  14. Cave artists

  15. Paleolithic religion?

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

  17. The Fertile Crescent • shaduf

  18. Farming

  19. Settling down • Prerequisite to civilization

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

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

  22. Catal Hüyük (cont.)

  23. The first writing?

  24. Neolithic religious life

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