Prehistoric People

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Prehistoric People Notes

Early Humans

 

  1. Homo sapiens
  1. Means "Thinking Man"
  2. Appeared about 250,000 years ago

 

  1. Neanderthals
  1. Had brains as large as modern humans
  2. Appeared about 100,000 years ago

 

  1. Cro-Magnons
  1. First human beings to have all the physical characteristics of modern

people
  1. Lived at about the same time as Neanderthals

 

Old Stone Age

 

  1. Lived as nomads in caves or tents made of branches and animal skins
  2. Traveled in small groups
  3. Hunted animals and gathered wild plants for food
  4. Achievements
  1. Mastery of Fire
  2. The Invention of Tools (Stone and Wood)

    3. A. Pounder (rock with a flat side)

    B. Knife (rock with a sharp edge)

    C. Fire (used for defense, cooking, light, heat, etc.)

  3. Development of Language
  4. Development of Rituals
  5. Development of Art (jewelry, music, sculpture, and painting)

 

New Stone Age

 
  1. Used more sophisticated tools
  2. Began to farm (around 10,000 years ago)
  3. Domesticated animals (for transportation and farming)
  4. Division of labor began: first artisans appear
  5. Barter system developed
  6. Began to live in large groups and villages
  7. Development of metalworking

 

Social Classes

 

  1. Grew out of division of labor
  2. All 4 early river civilizations developed them:
  1. Classes
  1. Ruler

2. Priests and Nobles

3. Merchants

4. Artisans

5. Unskilled laborers/farmers

6. Slaves

B. People did not move from class to class

 

 

Government

 

A. Reasons for Development

  1. Plan and direct large projects (including irrigation systems, buildings, food distribution)
  2. Growing population led to need to keep order (laws, judges, etc.)
  3. Provide defense against enemies
  1. Functions
  1. Organize people for large projects
  2. Keep order among the people
  3. Provide defense against enemies

C. Theocracies

  1. First type of government
  2. Ruled by priest-king
  3. Ruler was seen as either a god or as chosen representative of the gods
  4. 4. Laws were believed to be the commands of the gods

D. Systems of Writing

  1. Arose due to need to keep records
  1. Taxes owed, grain stored = government officials
  2. Passage of time, positions of the sun and moon = priests
  3. Goods bought and/or sold = merchants
  1. Uses increased
  1. Record oral traditions
  2. Preserve knowledge about science
  3. Record events and history