EXAMINING HISTORY PREHISTORY PREHISTORY period before written history

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) 2) 3) 4) Homo Habilis (2 million years ago) Homo Erectus (1 million years ago) Neanderthal (100 000 years ago) Cro-Magnon (50 000 years ago)

Homo Habilis DEVELOPMENT OF HUMANS Homo Erectus Latin for “handy man” - first hominid to make tools • fossilized human bones found with stone tools and animal fossils Latin for “upright man” Discoveries of “Java Man” (Indonesia) and “Peking Man” (China” • Lived in Africa, south Europe, Asia Skulls –a flatter head with a brain only 2/3 size of modern human; approximately 1. 5 m tall • Skulls- humans had long, flat and sharply angled at back (between ape and human head) • Thighbone- identical to modern humans > walk upright Built shelters of braches and collected bird eggs and wild berries for food; scavenger – not a hunter • Charred animals bones found = they used fire to cook • Belief that homo erectus was a descendant of homo habilis Tools / weapons = rocks, braches, sharp stones • No clothes Make fire= first by coals or volcanic ash; later by friction= made life easier as they could survive in colder climates Did not know how to use fire • 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

NEANDERTHALS VS CRO MAGNON NEANDERATHAL CRO MAGNON • South France- clearing away earth from back of a rock shelter locally known as Cro-Magnon 6 cm taller than homo erectus; thick eyebrow ridge • First appeared in Europe 30 000 years ago following ice age Tools= knives, spears made from chipped rock • 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 First discovered in Neander Valley- Germany Animals hides worn as clothes Lived in caves kept warm with fire First to bury the dead (graves with bodies carefully prepared

GREAT LEAP FORWARD 35 000 years ago when changes brought about innovation, creativity to humans (Homo 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

LIVING IN THE STONE AGE

“LITHOS” = STONE Paleolithic Age Neolithic Age Greek “paleo” means “old” Greek “neo” means “new” Upper Paleolithic age was 50 000 – 10 000 years ago Neolithic Revolution occurred between 9000 – 4000 BCE

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

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 km 2 of farm land supports 100 people, whereas only 1 person can be supported by H-G alone

NEOLITHIC TOOLS Digging stick Sickle Neolithic farming tools

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

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

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

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)

LASCAUX CAVE PAINTING

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

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

SOME FORM OF HUMAN SACRIFICE WAS COMMON

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?

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 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

TWO DIFFERENT IDEAS OF GOD Agricultural society Nomadic Animal Herders • Great Goddess is mother earth • • Earth = womb, which is female Moved around from pasture to pasture • • Not connected to the earth Male principal is supportive • • All agricultural peoples worshipped an earth goddess ( Inana – Sumeria, Ishtar – Babylon, Isis – Egypt 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 • God is a woman

WEAPONS & TECHNOLOGY PALEOLITHIC NEOLITHIC Excellent big-game hunters due to advances in weapons & strategies • Improved tools which helped farm and make weapons and tools: sickle, axe, hoe 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 • 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)

MAJOR INNOVATIONS OF THE STONE AGE More complex human societies (from seminomadic 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

ALL THESE LEAD TO THE FIRST “CIVILIZATION”

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

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

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 developing a calendar

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

CLASS STRUCTURE • With private property of land came inequality • Some would accumulate more land “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

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

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

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