Emergence of Civilization

Unit 1- Old Stone Age- Some Definitions

Terms to Know

Front PRE-HISTORY

• What : Period before writing was invented

• When: before 3500 BCE• Where: Africa, China, Asia, Europe,

Americas• Why Imp: Foundation of people and

society, we use pottery, buildings, bones, etc...to determine our best guess as to what life was like for them. We use artifacts because they had not yet invented writing and so there is no written record.

Terms to Know ARTIFACTS

What: objects studied by archaeologists, shaped by humans like tools, pottery, weapons, toys.

When: before 3500 BCE Where: Africa, China, Asia, Europe,

Americas Why Imp: used to make our best guess of

what life was like so we can see how they were able to adapt to their environment and events.

Terms to Know

Technology What: A change in thinking and

practice about how we do something to become more efficient

When: All the time Where: all over the world Why Imp: to become more

productive with less effort, saving humans time and energy.

Terms to Know

Scribes Who: Those who mastered the writing and

reading of the symbols, usually priests. Where: Africa, China, Asia, Europe,

Americas When: after 3500 BCE Why Imp: Used to keep track of religious

ceremonies and practices to keep gods happy. Later used by government to keep records. Kept secretive to protect their position in society.

Terms to Know

Social Classes What: Defines a persons place in

society When: Once Civilization starts. Where: All over the world Why Imp: Determines the possibilities

of ones life. Was little to no movement between social classes, kids took over parents profession, married within same social class. Things are really little different today.

6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 1000 0 1000 2000

Before Common Era (BCE) Common Era (CE)

Years

BCE What: Before Common

Era Why Imp: Reference for

years before “0” where years start at high number and count down to zero. Used to mark the passage of time.

CE What: Common Era When: NOW Why Imp: Reference for

years after “0” where years start at zero and go up by one every year after. Used to mark the passage of time.

Terms to Know ARCHAEOLOGISTS

Who: Scientists who analyze ARTIFACTS left by early people Where: All over the world When: Last 200 years Why Imp: Try to piece together what life was like for people who came

before us so we can gain a better understanding of them and our human heritage.

Three step process of gathering and analyzing 1 - find site 2 - start digging 3 - analyze artifacts found

a - determine location within/around a structure b - determine age of the artifact

Vore Buffalo Jump

Terms to Know

ANTHROPOLOGY What: Study of cultures and the unique way that people

live Where: All over the world When: Last 200 years Why Imp: To gain a better understanding of their lives

and things that effected them and in return have a greater understanding of their influence on our lives and society today.

Stone Age Peoples

Stone Age - Period when people used simple tools made of stone (arrow heads, axe heads) before writing was invented

Old Stone Age - Paleolithic New Stone Age – Mesolithic & Neolithic

Stone Age Peoples Old Stone Age

Paleolithic Era ‘Paleo’ means Old Stone Started about 2.5 Million years ago.

Africa, China, Asia, Europe, and Americas

Old Stone Age Peoples Nomadic

Move with and in search of food Fished, hunted, gathered plants, roots,

fruits, nuts and seeds. Travel in groups of related families No permanent shelters, lived in caves and

lean-tos Some organizational structures Developed limited spoken languages Clothing

Wore animal skins

Old Stone Age Peoples Learned to control fire

light, cooking, protection and warmth

Simple tools start to become more specialized Used bone & stone chipped to make

sharp edges Made needles, axes, fish hooks, arrow

heads, spear points

Comb

Old Stone Age Peoples Some basic

religious beliefs but no real structure

Cave drawings could help a hunt be productive

Burying dead with food – Belief in an afterlife

End of Paleolithic Era Marked by the end of the last Ice Age

Glaciers start to melt and move back towards the poles

Land bridges become covered with water as the oceans start to fill back up

Believed to be the way in which people first came to this continent from Africa and Europe, following herds

Changed the climate of many areas, deserts appeared with new plants