Prehistory

Unit 1: Early Human Society

Human Origins

What is prehistory?• Prehistory dates back

to the time before the invention of writing roughly 5,000 years ago.

What is an archaeologist?

• Scientist who learn about early people by excavating and studying the traces of early settlements

What is an anthropologist?

• Scientists who study culture and try to recreate a picture of early people’s cultural behavior- customs, family life, and social relationships.

What is a paleontologist?

• Scientists who study fossils and use complex techniques to date ancient fossil remains and rocks.

Paleolithic Age:• The Old Stone Age• About 2.5 million B.C. to

8,000 B.C.• Oldest stone chopping

tools date back to this era• Nomadic- hunting &

gathering people

Neolithic Age:• The New Stone Age• 8,000 B.C. – 3,000 B.C. in

some areas• Used polished stone tools,

made pottery, grew crops, and raised animals (domestication).

• Began to be sedentary and less nomadic

Paleolithic Age:• The Old Stone Age• About 2.5 million B.C. to

8,000 B.C.• Oldest stone chopping

tools date back to this era• Nomadic- hunting &

gathering people

The Agricultural Revolution

• Also called the Neolithic Revolution• Increases in global temperature after the Ice Age along with

discoveries about planting seeds led to the beginning of agriculture.

• With a food surplus, world population increased dramatically• People began to build permanent homes and settlements

(villages, towns, cities)

Beginning of agriculture

Agricultural Revolution

Post Agricultural Revolution

(Maps 101- spread of agriculture)

In your journal please respond to the following question

Question: What effect did the agricultural revolution have on population growth? Why?