WELCOME TO HUMANITIES 101

WORLD CIVILIZATION AND CULTURE

World Civilization and Culture Topic 1: Stone age : Prologue to Civilization

Some basic conceptsHistory : Record and interpretation of the human past past actions of human beings as well as factors which determined or influenced those actions

Culture : The sum total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings transmitted from generation to generation

Civilization : An advanced stage in the development of human culture essentially connected with urbanization

Chronology in HistoryBC: Before ChristBCE: Before Christian Era (Before Common Era)AD: Anno DominiCE: Christian Era (Common Era) Decade, Century, Millennium

Hominids & HumansAustralopithecus -5.3 Million Years agoHomo Habilis -2.4to1.5 Millions years ago (Fossil wood found in Africa)-Homo Erectus-1.8 Millions years ago(Java & Peking man) - 900-1100 cc brain case Neanderthal (appr. 125,000 30,000 years ago) brain case nearly 1500 cc buried their dead Homo Sapiens 200,000to 160,000 in Africa,40,000 in Europe (Cro-Magnon man)

Early humansPeking Man :

-Lived roughly 500,000 years BC

-Had a brain case measuring about 1000 cc.

-Walked erect

-Knew the use of fire

-Used stone tools

4. Neanderthal man :

-Lived about 100,000-50,000 years BC

-Brain case of about 1500 ccLived in caves

-Used fire

-Killed animals for food and clothing

-Made crude stone axes

-Had the capacity to articulate speech

5. Cro-Magnon man :

-Considered to have been the real Homo Sapiens

-Lived roughly 40,000 years BC

-Brain case about 1600 cc, which is very close to modern humans

-Lived in caves, was a great hunter, used more developed weapons.

-More refined artistic qualities : painted colored pictures

-Developed sense of collectivism and elements of religiosity

Human Evolution Australopithecus - Homo habilis - Homo erectus - Neanderthal - Homo sapiens

Paleolithic Age : main characteristics1. Means of survival : hunting and food gathering .

2.Tools : "Fist hatchet" or "hand axe"

3.Habitation : Caves, primitive huts / Shelter.4.Discovery : Fire. 5. Art : Cave painting

Social Organisation:Clans and Tribes

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