This material contains review materials about world prehistory.

1. Prehistory
6,000,000,000 b.c.e.
to
10,000 b.c.e.

2. Who studies prehistory?

3. Archaeologists
 “DIG” up the past
 Discover artifacts (man-
made objects) and
human remains
 Use curiosity and bias to
try and determine what
exactly was found

4. Anthropologist
 “STUDY” the past
 Describe artifacts and
remains archaeologists
find at dig sites
 Use
inferences/hypotheses,
bias and whatever
technology available to
try and figure out the
past

5. Historian
 “TELLS” about the past
 Uses the information the
Archaeologist and
Anthropologist gathered
to tell about the past
 Uses whatever
technology and
resources that are
available to share the
story of the past

6. You
 “LEARN” about the past
 Using everything that the
previous professionals have
done for you; and being
curious, look at the material
and give an effort to make
sense of the past
 Use resources, ask
questions and simply be
curious about the past
 You’re the “puzzle maker”,
put it together!

7. The “Real” Prehistory!

9. Where do we begin?
How long ago was it?
Was it creation or evolution?
What hominids or people lived
during that time?

10. Those are all good questions, but
let’s get to the real stuff
uncovered and discussed by
archaeologists, anthropologists
and historians…
shall we…
have fun and be curious…

11. What is prehistory?
Prehistory is the time period before written records
were kept by people.

12. Debate Topic:
Creation vs. Evolution
What do you think?
 Creation
Belief that a higher power
created the world
Time is relative with
everything beginning at
the same time
Beliefs, animals, people
and civilization have
common origins
 Evolution
Belief that the world was
created over billions of
years
Time is constant with
everything happening as
a result of earlier things
Beliefs, animals, people
and civilizations have
developed over time, but
have similar origins

19. Australopithecines
 What? “Southern Ape”
 When? 4 million - 2.5 million
 Where? East Africa
 Characteristics? Small, timid,
“ape-like”,
gatherer/scavenger/hunter,
“opportunist”, nomadic, tool
user, migration
 Contributions? “walker”,
“thinker”

21. Homo Habilis
• What? “Human with ability”
• When? 2.5 million – 1.5
million
• Where? Africa, Asia
• Characteristics? “ape/man-
like”, oldest hominid tool
maker, stone tools,
advanced thinking, limited
speech, gatherer/hunter
• Contributions? “walking
ability”

23. Homo Erectus
 What? “Walking Ability”
 When? 1.6 million – 250,000 b.c.
 Where? Africa, Europe and Asia
 Characteristics? Adapted to
environment,
gatherer/scavenger/hunter,
improved tool maker, fire, clothing
 Contributions? “Sophisticated
thinking”

25. Neanderthals
 What? Hominid, “Missing Link”
 When? 200,000 b.c. – 50,000
b.c.
 Where? Europe, Asia
 Characteristics? Stocky,
muscular, adapted to
environment, hunter/gatherer,
fire, superstitions, sophisticated
ideas – language, beliefs, tools,
ideas, sensitivity, creativity
 Contributions? “Cultural Beliefs”

27. Cro-Magnon
 What? “Modern Man”
 When? 50,000 b.c. – present
day
 Where? All continents, except
Antarctica
 Characteristics? “US”,
earliest modern-looking
people, created the basis for
modern civilization
 Contributions? Our world and
civilization

29. Eras of Prehistory
Concepts to know –
Paleolithic – Old Stone Age
4.5 million y.a. - 12,000 y.a.
Mesolithic – Middle Stone Age
12,000 y.a. – 10,000 y.a.
Neolithic – New Stone Age
10,000 y.a. – 8,000 y.a.

30. Paleolithic Era
 Paleolithic means “Old Stone Age”
 About 4,500,000 years ago to 12,000 years ago
 Simple stone/bone tools, nomadic, small groups,
“survival” mentality, scavenger/gatherer/hunter
 Hominid vs. Early People
 Australopithecines, Homo Halibis, Homo
Erectus, Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon

37. Mesolithic Era
 Means “Middle Stone Age”
 About 12,000 years ago to 10,000 years ago
 Improved methods of tool making (polished
stone), semi-nomadic, animism, artwork and
beliefs, life after death, hunter/gatherer/early
farming experimentation
 Advancements of early human groupings
(Neanderthal and Cro-Magnon)
 Major movement toward creation of civilization

41. Neolithic Era
 Means “New Stone Age”
 About 10,000 years ago to 8000 years ago
 Creation of tools out of metal instead of stone,
permanent settlements, farmer/hunter/gatherer,
division of labor, domestication of animals for
labor/food, plow, weaving
 Development of permanent societies led to the
development of civilization

45. Life during Prehistory
Beginnings Theory of African origins, migrations of
early hominids and humans
Hunters/Gatherers Lived in small hunting groups, all types
of prey and any vegetation/fruits,
nomadic
Early Religious Beliefs Animism, cave paintings, figurines,
caring for the dead
Agricultural Revolution Beginnings of farming, domestication of
animals
Changing ways of life Population growth in villages and cities,
community mentality, roles of
men/women, warfare, ownership and
wealth
New Technologies Development of new skills/tools, metal
working, plow, workshops, weaving
Creation of culture Blue-print for living

51. *** IMPORTANT CONCEPT
TO UNDERSTAND***
ASSIMILATION:
Blending of cultures

52. Creation of culture led to the
creation of civilization
Characteristics of Civilization –
Cities
Organized Governments
Religion
Division of Labor
Social Classes
Arts and Architecture
Public Works Projects
Writing

54. River Valley Civilizations
Mesopotamia Egypt
Indus China

56. PREHISTORY
6,000,000,000 b.c.e.
to
10,000 b.c.e.