Unit 1: Man’s Beginnings

Central Questions:Who were man’s early ancestors?What was the life of early man like?Why are resources important to civilization?What are the characteristics of civilization?

Man’s Beginnings• Out of Africa Theory

Idea that every living human is descended from hominids that came from Africa and spread throughout the worldhttp://www.bradshawfoundation.com/journey/ Do this!

• Hominid: upright primate that walks on two feet• Two ideas on how hominids are related:

• The early hominids aren’t all like “grandparents” but more like “cousins”… some die out, some survive, but no direct line

• The early hominids (from Homo Erectus on) evolved and are improved and direct versions of each other • http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/17/world/europe/ancient-skull-

human-evolution/?iref=obnetwork

Out of Africa Theory

Australopithecus

Appeared 3-4 million years agoAverage height: 3-5 feetHad a voice box, which allowed them to speakNomads: Constantly moved in search of foodHunters and gatherers

Homo Habilis“Person with ability”Came out of Africa about 3-1.5 million years agoCreated stone toolsHad limited speech abilityStill hunters and gatherers

Homo Erectus“Upright Person”Came out of Africa 150,00-200,000 years agoDevelopments:

More advanced stone tools like hand axesUsed caves as a form of shelterDraped animal skins for protective clothingControlled fire for warmth, protection, and cookingSpoken languageIncreased life spans and fewer diseasesJoined together in hunting and gathering groups

Homo Sapiens“Person who thinks” or “Wise man”Lived 200,000 to 300,000 years agoDivided into two different types:

Neanderthal: 200,000 to 35,000 years ago

Anatomically Modern Human: 60,000 to 8,000 years ago

NeanderthalVery intelligent compared to Homo ErectusProbably believed in an afterlife

Buried the dead Cared for disabled community membersCannibals?

DevelopmentsHide-scraper (allowed them to clean animal skins which they sewed to make clothes)Spear pointUsed caves and simple lean-tos for shelter

Died out, but their DNA lives on in some humans today http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmb41PcarVY

Anatomically Modern Humans

aka AMH aka Cro-Magnon Advanced beyond Neanderthals in technologyDevelopments

Knives, chisels, bow and arrowNeedles and sewed leather clothingFish hooks, harpoons, fishnets, and canoesSun-hardened pottery

SocietyWorked in groups to hunt the wooly mammothHad formal leaders with special rightsBelieved in an afterlife and had religious rituals involving cave paintings and sculptures

Homo Sapiens SapiensPersons Who REALLY Thinks or “Wise, Wise Man”Human beings’ direct ancestors

Marked by fully modern languageAbstract, creative, and symbolic thought

Came out of Africa 200,000 to 100,000 years agoCo-existed with Neanderthals and AMHs and acquired their technological skillsMigrated throughout the worldDeveloped differently depending on their location and climate, developing different racial types

African, Asian, and CaucasianGenetic structure of all humans is almost exactly the same

Videoshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdTk5OvtvM4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1ZmZXicwug <- Art Showhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGkmPqdjAeI&feature=related <- Stone Age Hunting (Everyone together at the end! Stand up!)