Living in the Stone Age Examining History Prehistory

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Living in the Stone Age

Living in the Stone Age

Examining History: Prehistory § PRE-HISTORY- period before written history § Approximately 1. 75 million

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) 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)

Development of Humans Homo Habilis § Latin for “handy man” § Lived in eastern

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

Neanderthals vs Cro Magnon NEANDERATHAL § Neander Valley- Germany § 6 cm taller than

Neanderthals vs Cro Magnon NEANDERATHAL § Neander Valley- Germany § 6 cm taller than homo erectus; thick eyebrow ridge § Tools= knives, spear sharpeners 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 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

Great Leap Forward § 35 000 years ago when changes brought about innovation, creativity

Great Leap Forward § 35 000 years ago when changes brought about innovation, creativity to humans (Homo Sapiens) 2 FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES OCCURRED: 1) Development of modern anatomy 2) 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

“Lithos” = stone Paleolithic Age Neolithic Age § Greek “paleo” means § Greek “neo”

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

Comparing the Stone Ages PALEOLITHIC § small groups of 5 -10 families § Nomadic

Comparing the Stone Ages PALEOLITHIC § small groups of 5 -10 families § Nomadic to seminomadic § Closer relationships between bands of people ie. Cro-Magnon society NEOLITHIC § People abandoned seminomadic life and began farming § Agricultural revolution was a progression of the “Great Leap Forward” § planting of crops § domesticating of animals § Better tools & weapons

Social Structure: Paleolithic Age § closer social relationships § Social stratification= emergence of leadership

Social Structure: Paleolithic Age § closer social relationships § Social stratification= emergence of leadership and beginning of social classes § Social roles: patriarchal; men were big game hunters § women captured small game and made clothing; women & children were gatherers

Social Structure: Neolithic Age § Increasing knowledge = more control of food supply §

Social Structure: Neolithic Age § Increasing knowledge = more control of food supply § End of Ice Age = better for agriculture § As population grew, so did the competition for land § Shift from semi-nomadic to permanent towns and cities (first city was Jericho, in Mesopotamia between 8000 – 7000 BCE) and more occupations § Trade by barter system (obsidian – most valued traded material traded for farm produce) § Development of hierarchical class system

Religion & Art in Paleolithic Age § The Paleolithic Age (Cro-Magnon) was the first

Religion & Art in Paleolithic Age § The Paleolithic Age (Cro-Magnon) was the first to develop fine art as drawings § CAVE PAINTINGS of deer, horses and animals which are now extinct § cultural explosion in art as more tools, jewellery, and sculptures/ figurines of clay, ivory and stone emerged § More advanced spiritual practices with graves found jewellery and spears made of mammoth tusks buried with bodies = this suggests a ritual burial with a view of an afterlife

Caves at Lascaux [lass co] § § § Painting at Lascaux Caves (south central

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)

Venus of Willendorf § Small sculptures such as the Venus of Willendorf were common

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

Weapons & Technology PALEOLITHIC § Better hunting strategies due to co-operation and more lethal

Weapons & Technology PALEOLITHIC § Better hunting strategies due to co-operation and more lethal weapons § Better tools for skinning game, preparing food, sewing clothes § Cro-Magnons stored food over winter showing more planning § bow and arrow around 20 000 BCE NEOLITHIC § efficient tools which helped farm and make weapons and tools § 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)

STONEHENGE § Stonehenge is located on Salisbury Plain in England § Created 2800 -1500

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?

Mystery of Stonehenge § Stonehenge was built in 3 major stages over 1300 years

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

Major Innovations of the Stone Age § More complex human societies (from seminomadic to

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”

ALL THESE LEAD TO THE FIRST “CIVILIZATION”