PREHISTORY Lithos stone Paleolithic Age Neolithic Age Greek

PREHISTORY

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

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 Homo Erectus Latin for “upright man” 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 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

Human evolution

The Australopithecuses “Lucy”

Homo habilis “Handy Man”

Homo erectus

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

Comparing the Stone Ages PALEOLITHIC small groups of 5 -10 families Nomadic to seminomadic Closer relationships between bands of people Fire Cave art Jewellery – teeth and bones 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

c The peripatetic life

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

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

Extraordinary art!

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 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

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

Cave artists Ochre, fat, spit, pigment

Paleolithic religion? Bury dead, worship of fertility

Eating Who was the more productive? � � The hunter? Or the gatherer?

Farming

Settling down Prerequisite to civilization Mammoth bones, mud, skins

Neolithic religious life

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

ALL THESE LEAD TO THE FIRST “CIVILIZATION”

The Fertile Crescent shaduf

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

Jericho Jordan River valley c. 8000 BCE

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.

Catal Hüyük Modern Turkey c. 6500 BCE

Catal Hüyük (cont. )

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

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?

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

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

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

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

The first writing?