2. Prehistory is the period in
human history before
recorded events.
To investigate Prehistory
scholars use auxiliary
sciences such as
Paleontology, Archeology
and Chronology.
4. The continents did
not exist as they are
today.
In fact, the continents
are similar to what they
were 20 million years
ago.
5. Dinosaurs and hominids
coexisted during Prehistory.
In fact, dinosaurs became
extinct 65 million years ago.
The earliest hominids
appeared about 4.5 million
years ago.
6. The monkeys are the
ancestors of modern
human beings.
In fact, apes and humans
share a common ancestor
which is yet to be
determined.
7. Human evolution is a linear
process in which one
species of hominid
substitutes another.
In fact, remains of different
species of hominids have
been found, and several
coexisted in the same time
and space.
8. Stages in Prehistory
Palaeolithic (4,500,000 - 8,000 BC /BCE)
Neolithic (8,000 BC/BCE - 4,000 BC/BCE)
Metal Ages (4,000 - 1,100 BC/BCE)
10. Hominization process
• Bipedalism
• Release of the hands
• Opposable thumb
• Head balanced in line with back
• Transformation of the larynx
• Use of fire and tools to prepare and cook food
33. Life in the Palaeolithic period
• Predatory economy
• Nomadic society
• Utensils made of carved stone and other materials
• Invention of fire
• Religious beliefs
• Invention of art
45. Life in the Neolithic period
• Productive economy
• Sedentary society
• Utensils made of polished stone
• Invention of pottery, textiles and trade
• First political or religious leaders
• Religion based on astrology, the mother goddess and
veneration of the dead
60. Life in the Metal Ages
• Utensils made of metal (copper, bronze and iron)
• Increase in artisan production, and agricultural surplus
• Development of long distance trade
• Inventions: wheel, plough and sail
• Emergence of cities, armies and monarchs
• First architecture (megaliths)
61. Utensils, tools and
weapons made of metal
The result was the
superiority of the societies
that understood the
metallurgical process.
73. Stages in Prehistory in the Iberian Peninsula
and Balearic Isles
Palaeolithic (1,000,000 - 5,000 BC /BCE)
Neolithic (5,000 BC/BCE - 2,500 BC/BCE)
Metal Ages (2,500 - 800 BC/BCE)
74. Life in the Palaeolithic
• The first hominid is the Homo Antecessor species (1,000,000
years ago)
• Numerous remains of Homo Neanderthalensis have been
found.
• Homo Sapiens (Man of Cromagnon) arrived 40,000 years ago.
• Cave paintings in Spain are included in the World Heritage List.
75. Homo Antecessor
is the oldest
hominid in the
Iberian Peninsula
Remains have
been found in the
Atapuerca
archeological site
(Burgos)
80. Life in the Neolithic
• The agriculture, the domestication of animals and the pottery
appeared as a result of contact with other people.
• Cardium pottery was the main art form.
83. Life in the Metal Ages
• Metalworking was introduced by people searching for metal, who came
from the Eastern Mediterranean region.
• Metalworking in copper was mainly focused in the culture of Los Millares
(Almería).
• Metalworking in bronze had two important focus: the culture of El Argar
and the Balearic Isles Culture.
• Metalworking in Iron was introduced by the Celtic people, and the
Phoenician and Greek colonists.