Origin of HumansWorld Studies

Objective: SWBAT describe early humans

E.Q. – How are early humans described?

Unit Overview

In this unit, we are going to explore:

The First Humans (week 5)

The First Civilizations (week 6-7)

Religion (week 8)

Egypt/ Nile River DBQ (week 9)

Where did humans come from?

Creationism

The belief that God created the world and everything in it.

Cultures all over the world each have their versions of how the world came to be.

Example: Genesis (Christianity, Judaism)

Evolution

Humans developed over time from lesser animals.

Charles Darwin published The Origin of Species in 1859 suggesting that humans had evolved over time and shared a common ancestor with apes.

“Survival of the fittest”

A Note on B.C. and A.D.

The Gregorian calendar, which we follow, is based on the birth of Jesus Christ. Jesus was born in the year 1.

B.C. (Before Christ) indicates anything that happened before the birth of Jesus Christ. Ex. The Roman Empire began

around 500 B.C.

A.D. (Anno Domini, Latin for “Year of the Lord” indicates anything that happened after the birth of Christ. Ex. Mr. P was born in 1981 A.D.

What is an issue with using B.C and A.D.?

BCE – before the common era

CE – common era

Sample Timeline

African Origins Scientists believe the

first “humans” existed over 2 million years ago in modern day Ethiopia, Africa.

Lucy (3.2 million years old) Early human ancestor Not as developed as

today’s humans.

Lucy’s Skeleton

How did humans spread to various

places?Multi-Regional

Theory Early humans left

Africa and went to other parts of the world, then slowly evolved into modern humans.

Migration, then evolution.

“Out of Africa” Theory

Modern humans evolved relatively recently in Africa, then migrated throughout the world.

Evolution, then migration.

Multi-regional Theory

“Out of Africa” Theory

Old Stone Age 2,500,000 BCE to 10,000 BCE

Humans were hunters and gatherers Men hunted small animals Women gathered fruits, nuts, seeds Lived in small bands of 20-30 people Could not support large population because hunting

was not very effective to create a surplus of food.

Most were nomads Moved from place to place…No mad? No home! Followed herds of animals

Old Stone Age Humans of this time

period found shelter in caves

Humans left behind cave painting as evidence

Simple tools were created out of stone

Cave Paintings

Stone Age Tools

What did Stone Age people look like?

Hard to know for sure, but probably similar to the stereotypical “caveman.”

New Stone Age Aka Neolithic or Agricultural Revolution

10,000 BCE to 4,000 BCE

Gradual shift from nomadic lifestyles to settled, stationary lifestyles

Plant and animal domestication (farming, livestock)

First time humans developed surplus of food. This allowed for specialization of labor.

Not all people had to farm

Beginnings of social classes

New Stone Age Agriculture developed independently in

different parts of the world.

Growing crops on a regular basis made it possible to support larger populations.

Domestication of animals allows for the replacement of manual power to animal power.

More permanent settlements emerged.

Agricultural Hearths

What is the next step in the development of human settlements?

CIVILIZATIONS!