Understanding Our Origins:Where Did Humans Come From?

Two Theories of Human Migration

Biblical Theory

Evolutionary Theory “Out of Africa” Theory

The First Known Humans Lived in the Paleolithic Age

“Stone Age”

Paleolithic/Stone AgeWhat was the lifestyle of the earliest humans?

– Hunting, fishing, and gathering food

Things They Discovered/Invented– Stone or bone tools– Fire– Canoes and boats made of

logs– Made clay pottery– Domesticated (tamed)

animals

Paleolithic/Stone Age

The people were nomadic.

Why would they have to have a nomadic lifestyle?

To have food and survive they had to follow the animals and move with the weather changes.

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Neolithic Revolution(“neo” = New, “lithic” = Stone)

New Stone Age

Neolithic Revolution

• Began around 8,000BC

• People learned how to grow food and how to herd (keep) animals.

• Use of copper, bronze, and iron tools.

• Began in Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, China, and the Americas.

Why did civilizations develop in these areas?

Neolithic Revolution Leads to Civilization

• Benefits of Agriculture:– Takes less people to grow

food so other jobs develop such as potters, weavers, metal workers, warriors, and priests.

– People are no longer nomadic and cities develop.

– Government develops in order to deal with so many people living close together.

– Writing develops!!!– Complex social structure

forms– Science and technology

develop

In one sentence summarize the importance of the Neolithic Revolution.

Culture

• What is it? A people’s special way of life.

• Includes:– Language– Type of clothing– Type of homes– Family organization– System of

government– Methods of obtaining

food– Types of crafts– Music– Religious beliefs

List some aspects of the American culture.

Characteristics of Civilizations

CIVILIZATION

Cities

Government

Religion Social Structure

Writing

Art

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpny3cvwWPE

Early Neolithic Cities

JerichoOne of the world’s oldest cities, located near the Dead Sea in the Middle East.

Mud & Mortar Homes.

About 70 dwellings.

Wall: 12ft high, 6ft wide

Early Neolithic Cities

ḈatalhüyükThe best preserved of the Neolithic cities.

Larger than Jericho.Located in Turkey.

Mostly home dwellings and shrines of goddesses.

Farming areas outside the city gave them a

surplus of food.

http://media2.k12.mhedu.com/secure/GXCTLJ6MYS2853QV9BT7F657X1;s=CE3EDE61B3586D95500396CA104FB840

Check for Mastery1. How did the first humans adapt to survive?

2. How did developments in the Neolithic Revolution period impact early human history?

3. How would you define “civilization”?

4. How did food surpluses benefit the city of Ḉatalhüyük?

5. People were ranked in a social structure. What factor decided your rank in society?