Early Cultures

Early CulturesAfricaContent Focus:

As Earths climate changed, early Africansbegan migrating across the continent. Asthey lived in new environments, theylearned how to use available resources.

FeaturesSaharaToday a huge desert, received enough rainfor grasses and other plants to grow

African savannasGrassy plains were rich in wild game,while nearby woodlands providedseasonal plants

Features ContinuedRivers, lakes, and coastsPermanent camps along the Nile River inNorthern Africa had plenty of water, wildplants, and game. Fish was caught withtwine nets and bone hooks.

Nelsons Bay CaveHunters killed antelope, wild pigs, andseabirds. Fishers used hooks and nets.

AfricaNew Weapon:Bow and Arrow

EuropeContent Focus:

At the end of the last Ice Age, earlyEuropeans adapted to a forestenvironment. They developed new toolsand ways of living, and became lessnomadic.

How Landscape Changed and People AdaptedLandscape changed from plains to forests. People had hunted on wide, open plains, now they hunted game in thick forests and fished on shorelines. Adapting: made tools that could do special jobsEuropeBaltic SeaFishing spears, harpoons, nets, and traps.Made spear tips from stone, bone, orantlers.People living in the forestsDeveloped tools for making things out ofwood

EuropePeople living along the waterwaysUsed wooden tools for making canoesFood became so plentiful that populations increased. As these populations increased, people moved less often.

EuropeSources of food and shelterSome made crops along rivers,lakes, and seacoasts, where sea life couldbe found. Others built shelters of woodand animal skinsAsia and the PacificContent Focus:

Between about 14,000 and 12,000 yearsago, people began populating Asia and thesouthwestern Pacific Islands. Some beganto stay longer in areas that had plentifulfood.

Eastern Coast of the Mediterranean SeaSummers: hillsWinters: rock shelters and caves near lakes. As temperatures warmed, people moved to higher ground where soil was better for wild plants.

Asia and the PacificWith grains and nuts in good supply, people began to stay longer in the same places.

Abu HureyraFood supply and living arrangements

Wild plants and animals. Hunters killedmigrating gazelles and stored the meat.People lived in shelters with reed roofsbuilt partly underground.

Asia and the PacificTools in JapanFirst known clay pots for carrying waterand storing food.

People living in the heavily forested areas used bamboo and stone for making tools.

Asia and the PacificTools in thick forests of southeastern AsiaSharpened bamboo proved to be a goodtool and weapon.

North AmericaContent Focus:

People in North America adapted to avariety of environments, ranging fromdeserts to rain forests. They adapted theirtechnology to available resources. Clovis PeopleUsed their spears to kill large Ice Age animals. Hunted mammoths and large bison Also ate smaller game and wild plantsNorth AmericaAs the number of large Ice Age mammals began to decrease, people turned to hunting smaller animals, such as deer and small bison, using smaller spear points and tools.North AmericaDesert Like AreasPeople camped in rock shelters and caves. Hunted desert animals, such asrabbits, and gathered wild plants.

Forests of eastern North AmericaFrom trees, people got nuts and sap forfood, branches for clubs and woodenspears, and bark for shelters.

North AmericaMexicoSome lived in large camps when food wasplentiful. To survive, they learned to divideinto smaller groups when food was scarce.

South AmericaContent Focus:

People who first settled South Americaadapted to rain forests, mountains, andother environments. Scientists haveuncovered a 12,500 year old site in Monte Verde, Chile.

South AmericaPeople migrated from North America to South America.

They migrated to:1. The cold ocean coasts at the southern tip2. High up in the Andes Mountains3. The dense rainforests surrounding the Amazon River

South AmericaMonte Verde lies in a small river valley in what is now southern Chile.

Housing and Foods:Fireplaces for cooking. People ate manydifferent kinds of plants, including wildpotatoes, and hunted small animals as wellas camel species and mastodons.

South AmericaPeruCaught seafood year-round (thousands ofanchovies). They also relied on plantfoods.

BrazilA cave provided shelter for early people.Depended mostly on plants.Found Brazil nuts and palm seeds