The document discusses life during the Stone Age period of prehistory. It describes some of the key human species that lived during this time, including Homo habilis who used stone tools, Homo erectus who were the first to control fire and travel out of Africa, and Homo sapiens. Neanderthals are also mentioned as a variety of early modern humans. During the Paleolithic period, humans lived in small nomadic groups and relied on hunting and gathering, while the Neolithic period saw the beginning of agriculture, domestication of animals, and more complex social structures. Many innovations occurred during the Stone Age, including the earliest known art, religion and spiritual practices, and developments that eventually led to the emergence
Homo Habilis Latin for “handy man” Discoveries in 1930s by Louis and Mary Leakey Lived in eastern Africa > spread north to Asia fossilized human bones found with stone tools and animal fossils Skulls – humans had a flatter head with a brain only 2/3 size; approximately 1.5 m tall Built shelters of braches and collected bird eggs and wild berries for food; hunted wild pigs Tools / weapons = rocks, braches, sharp stones No clothes Did not know how to use fire
Paleolithic- 1) People lived in small groups of 5-10 families 2) Nomadic to semi-nomadic (hunting and gathering) 3) close relationships between bands of people ie. Cro-Magnon society NEOLITHIC 1) People abandoned semi-nomadic life and began farming
Increasing knowledge of plants and animals allowed more control of food supply End of Ice Age brought a warmer, wetter climate which brought new wild grasses and grains As population grew, so did the competition for land Shift from semi-nomadic to the building of permanent towns and cities (first city was Jericho, in Mesopotamia between 8000 – 7000 BCE) Trade by barter system was a crucial factor in the origin of cities ( obsidian – a volcanic glass was one of the most valued traded materials (tools, weapons, art) would be traded for farm produce Development of hierarchical class system Domestication animals (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs) More occupations emerged with more permanent cities and towns
The Paleolithic Age (Cro-Magnon) was the first to develop fine art as drawings Over 100 European caves showcase CAVE PAINTINGS of deer, horses and animals which are now extinct Beginnings of cultural explosion in art as more tools, pendants, jewellery, and sculptures/ figurines of clay, ivory and stone emerged More advanced spiritual practices emerged as graves were found containing beads, ivory jewellery and spears made of mammoth tusks buried with bodies = this suggests a ritual burial with a view of an afterlife
Painters used irregularities in cave walls to add a 3-D effect to figures
The cave is large and the paintings are very far back. In many caves, the original passageways were only 3 or 4 feet high, forcing artists to crawl through. There is no outside light, and since many animals are overlain
![Examining History: Prehistory ,[object Object],[object Object],Oldowan stone tools - earliest known](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)