Before HistoryChapter 1
The Hominids
Australopithecus Homo Erectus Migrations of Homo Erectus
• Hominid• Walked upright• Opposable thumbs• Communicate verbally• Traveled deliberately• Tools (choppers, scrapers)
• “upright walking human”• Sophisticated tools• Created fires• Fires used for: cooking,Defense, heat• Communicate complexideas
• Increase control over Environment• Migrated to N. AfricaAnd Eurasian lands• Moved to W,E, SE &S Asia
Homo Sapiens
LanguageMigrations ofHome Sapiens
The PeoplingOf the World
The Natural Environment
• Evolved traits• Vocal chords• Mouth cavityw/ Tongue
• Adaptable• Africa, EuropeAnd Asia• Ice bridges Populated other areas
• No other animalOr plant has made itTo all habitable partsOf the world
• Homo sapiensUsed their intelligence,Sophisticated tools,And language to Exploit the naturalWorld efficiently
Paleolithic Society
Economy & Society of Hunting and Gathering PeoplesRelative Social Equality
Relative GenderEquality
Big GameHunting
Paleolithic Settlements
• Hunting andGathering preventsPrivate property• Influence startedBy: age, strength,Courage, intelligence,Fertility, force ofpersonality
• All members Contributed to Survival• Women &Children gathered• Men hunted• InterdependenceDiscourage dominance• Lived in smallBands (30-50 mem)• Systemic & efficientExploitation of environment
• Special tools• Disguises • Fires• DisturbancesTo cause a stampede
• NatufiansMediterraneanWild wheat & animals• Jomon JapanBuckwheat&fishing• ChinookNW N.AmericawildBerries, acorns, salmon
Paleolithic CultureNeanderthalPeoples
The Creativity of Homo Sapiens
Venus Figurines Cave Paintings
• Named afterNeander ValleyIn W. Germany• Some sameRegion as Homo Sapiens• Little interBreeding• Deliberate Burials & rituals• Significance of Life a death
• AchievementThrough CommunicationAbility
• Roman goddess Of love• Exaggerated sexualFeatures• Generation of newlife
• Lascaux in France• Reasons: SuccessfulHunting Expeditions, SympatheticMagic• Minerals,Plants, blood,Saliva, water,Animal fat
THE NEOLITHIC ERA AND THE TRANSITIONTO AGRICULTURE
The Origins of Agriculture
Neolithic Era Global Climate Change& Gender Relations in Agriculture
IndependentInventions inAgriculture
Early Spread ofAgriculture
• Aka “new stoneAge”• Early stagesOf agriculture• Use of stonetools
• 15000 years agoMany fluctuationsIn temp and rain• After ice ageEarth get warmer,More rain, stableClimate• Neolithic peopleTook advantage byGrowing plants & Domestication• Women: nurturedPlants and collectedMen: hunted & dome-sticated
• 1st signs of Agriculture in Different areas:9000bce-SW Asia• 9000-7000bce-SE Africanin Sahara• 8000-6000bce-SW Africa• 6500bce-E. Asia• 4000bce-Meso-America• 3000bce-S. America
• AgricultureSpread fast dueTo methods• Slash andBurn cultivation• Method helpedTo spread cultivation• Foods in oneArea only wereSpread to others(ex. Wheat• AgricultureWas physically demanding
Early Agricultural Society
Emergence of Villages & TownsAnd Spec. of Labor
Pottery andMetalworking
Textile Production
Social Distinctions& Social Inequality
• Settled near fieldsIn villages• Jericho-earliestKnown village• Many people,surplus of foodMeant new jobs• Catal Huyuk-Neolithic townSuggesting spec. ofLabor• Ex. Clay pots, Baskets, metal tools,textiles
• Store surplus foods• Dry or liquid Products• Artistic expression& practical utensil• Copper-earliest metalHumans used• Jewelry & simple tools• Smelted copper madeOther tools (ex. KnivesAxes, hoes)• Metallurgical foundation
• SelectiveBreeding led toBetter fibers• Woman’s jobWhile caringFor the children
• 1st time peopleCan accumulate Wealth• Barter system• DevelopmentOf privateProperty• land=wealth=Power• Social classesemerged
Neolithic CultureReligious Values
• Dependence on Agriculture led to knowledgeOf the moon and stars• Agricultural people learned the seasons throughThe position of the sun, moon and stars• 1st steps toward a calendar• Neolithic religion reflected it reliance on the earth• Celebrated ideas of birth, growth, death & regeneration• Ex. Butterflies and frogs
The Origins of Urban LifeEmergence of Cities
• Development of Cities was gradual• Differed from villages and towns in2 ways:
1) more complex (spec. of labor, more population, more professionals, professional managers [governors, tax collectors, military strategist], priests)2) influenced political , economic and cultural life of larger regions (attracted buyers and sellers of different regions), extended claims of authority, were able to spreadtheir culture and traditions