Early Periods of History

Paleolithic Age (2,500,000 – 10,000 BC)

• Also called the “Old Stone Age”• Hunters and Gatherers for survival• Nomadic (moved from place to

place) to follow animals and vegetation

• Lived in groups of 20-30 men• (necessary for hunting large animals)• Lived in caves (especially in cold

areas) or sticks with animal skins draped over them

• Invention of fire necessary as moved into colder regions

Ice Age (100,000 BC – 8,000 BC)

• Thick sheets of ice cover large parts of Europe, Asia, and North America.

• Fire and ability to adapt to the environment were essential for survival

Ice Age (100,000 BC – 8,000 BC)

• Homo Erectus- 1st to deliberately make fire

Methods for making fire• Friction (rubbing 2 sticks together)• Striking iron pyrite against another

hard stone makes a spark

Fire provides…Warmth, Sense of Community, Protection, Flush animals out of woods, Cook food

The Neolithic Age (8,000 BC – 4,000 BC)

• Also called the New Stone Age• Neolithic Revolution ends

Paleolithic Age

Neolithic Revolution Move from hunting & gathering food to… • Systematic agriculture (Growing food on a regular basis)• Domestication (Taming animals for human use)

The Neolithic Age (8,000 BC – 4,000 BC)

Changes caused by NeolithicRevolution

– Settle in one place (Not nomadic)– Creates food surpluses– Extra time for artisans (skilled

workers making weapons, jewelry, etc. for trade)

– New/improved weapons & tools– Men become more dominant (women stay home)

Civilization Begins!• Around 3,000 BC, begin

to use stronger metal –BRONZE (made by mixing tin and copper)

• Bronze Age Begins (3,000 BC – 1,200 BC)

• First Civilizations created! Prehistory ends!

Civilizations Are Created!6 Characteristics of a

Civilization

•Rise of cities•Growth of Governments•Development of Religious Beliefs•Social Structure (organization of who holds power)•Writing System•Art (Cave Art)

Cave Art

• Art (Cave Art)• Found in France & Spain• Animals drawn in detail & humans (stick figures)• Scientists believe paintings were rituals for

success in hunting

Student Activity #1 Assume that you were a witness to one of the changes shown above, and you experienced its social consequences. Write a journal entry describing your role in the society and your reaction to the change.

Student Activity # 2To show the emergence of civilizations as a chain of causes and effects, fill in the flow chart by putting the following events in the correct order. Then continue the chain of causes and effects by adding 2 events.

•The earliest civilizations arose in river valleys.

•People looked for places where water was plentiful and soil was fertile to establish permanent farming communities.

•Farming replaced hunting and gathering as a means of procuring food.

•Farming peoples settled in river valleys like those of the Nile and Indus.

•Neolithic people domesticated plants and animals.