Chapter 1

Section 1: Discovery of Early Humans in Africa

In 1974, Donald C. Johanson and Tom Gray uncovered a 3.2 million year-old skeleton of a hominid nicknamed “Lucy”. Lucy was the most complete skeleton of any erect-walking prehuman found.

The Ice Age caused great environmental changes that assisted the spread of human kind into different areas of the world. Land bridges allowed prehistoric humans to cross into North and South America. These land bridges were then overtaken by the swollen seas.

Chart of Early human species:

Scentific Name	Australopithecus	Homo habilis	Homo erectus	Homo sapiens	Homo sapiens sapiens
Common Name	“Southern Ape”	“Person with ability”	“Person who walks upright”	“Person who thinks”	“Person who thinks”
Date	4.4 million years ago	1.5 million years ago	100,000 to 200,000 years ago	20,000 to 100,000 years ago	People living today.
Characteristics	Large face. Small brains. Teeth suitable for grinding. Nomads.	Larger brain. Toolmakers.	Walked upright on 2 feet. Larger brain. Food gathers. Made fire.	Larger brain capable of thinking and understanding.	Originated in Africa.

After the Ice Age followed the Stone Age that is broken into 3 periods:

a. Paleolithic (Old Stone Age): characterized by the first tool making by Homo habilis. From 1.5 million years to 12,000 BC.

b. Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age): 12,000 BC to 8000 BC.- improved the methods of obtaining food and domestication.

c. Neolithic (New Stone Age): 8000 BC to 5000 BC.- rise of agriculture.

Section 2: The Appearance of Homo Sapiens

First Homo sapines were the Neanderthals. Neanderthals were nomadic hunter-gathers that used crafted stone knives, spear points, and bone tools. Lived in small groups and took care of their sick and elderly.

Homo sapiens sapiens become the only hominids left on Earth. First Homo sapiens sapiens was the Cro-Magnons. Invented better tools including the stone axe and long-distance weapons (spear thrower). Better hunting and gathering techniques allowed for more permanent homes to be built. Also created cave paintings.

Neolithic Revolution: Began at different times around the world. Different crops became domesticated depending on the part of the world. (see page 30). Agriculture brought a steady food supply and enabled people to stay longer in one place. Brought the rise of villages. Villagers had more time to improve on social aspects of the community. Religion, clothes making, and other scientific advancements took place.

Section 3: Emergence of Civilization

Agriculture leads to small villages which gave rise to the emergence of civilizations. Early civilizations were formed near rivers (The Nile, Tigris and Euphrates, and Huang He).

Characteristics of river civilizations:

a. Labor was specialized (men and women did different jobs)

Rise of artisans

b. Advanced technology (metalworking skills)

c. Form of government.

d. Complex systems of values and beliefs.

Myths arouse to explain the creation of man and the world (see page 35)

e. Irrigation system

Help produce a surplus of food

Able to control flooding

Civilizations lead to social standing and writing. Writing was a source of record keeping of the priests for wheat, cloth, and other goods.