AP World History Key Concept 1.1 of Technological and Environmental Transformations, to c. 600 B.C.E. with links to articles, including Scientific American, and videos on YouTube. The presentation is also interactive in terms of questions and evidence analysis.

1. Big Geography & the
Peopling of the Earth
AP World History
Key Concept 1.1
Technological and Environmental
Transformations, to c. 600 B.C.E.

2. Key Concepts
Each key concept is designed to allow learners
to identify patterns that can be used in further
studies of world history.

3. Questions
The questions are written from the
key concepts. They are designed to
start the inquiry process that guides
our evidence collection,
interpretation, and organization.
Please do not limit yourself to
these questions. If they raise
more questions, write those down
and investigate.

4. Big Geography & the Peopling
of the Earth
During the Paleolithic Era (pre-10,000 BCE)
hunter-gatherers gradually migrated from East
Africa to Eurasia, Australia and the Americas,
adapting their technology and cultures.
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5. Questions
■ What evidence do we have that explains the
earliest history of humans?
■ How is this evidence interpreted?
■ Where did humans first appear on Earth?
■ What were the characteristics of their society,
religion, technology, economy and culture?
■ How did the earliest humans procure enough
supplies to survive?

6. “Out of Africa” migrations Theory
based on Archeological Evidence
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7. Archaeological Evidence:
“Lucy”
skeleton
Footprints
in Olduvai
Gorge,
eastern
Africa
Louis and Mary Leakey’s
findings at Olduvai Gorge
convinced the world that
humans came from Africa.
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8. Characteristics of Early Societies
● Little if any social classes
○ no possessions to distinguish
rich/poor, powerful/weak
● Egalitarian (equal but not
identical work & value of both
genders’ contributions)
○ Men probably hunted, women
foraged/gathered.
● Small bands/communities
(30-50 people)

9. How do we know?
The San of the
Kalahari Desert, Africa
early
humans

10. Characteristics: Religion
Most likely animistic.

11. Characteristics: Technology
● Stone Tools/Weapons
○ Specially adapted to different environments.
■ What works in the tropics won’t in the tundra!

12. Characteristics: Technology
● Stone Tools/Weapons
(no wheel yet!)
● Fire
○ Useful in slash & burn
agriculture
○ Protection against
animals
○ Keeping warm in cold
climates
○ Food Click or touch for article

13. Characteristics: Economy
● Small kinship groups of 30-50
people.
○ Some were self-sufficient, others to
exchange to survive
● Trade, including …
○ People
○ Goods
○ Ideas
Limited range
of contact with
other groups

14. Characteristics: Culture
Knowledge passed
generation to generation
leads to greater
complexity.
How do environmental
pressures influence the
development of culture?

15. Characteristics: Survival
● Cultural adaptation to new
environments
● Cooperation and capacity
to look beyond the surface
at an early age.
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We can ask and answer this
question really well.
What are the implications?

16. How did you do?
■ What evidence do we have that explains the
earliest history of humans?
■ How is this evidence interpreted?
■ Where did humans first appear on Earth?
■ What were the characteristics of their society,
religion, technology, economy and culture?
■ How did the earliest humans procure enough
supplies to survive?

17. Brought to you by ...
Special thanks to Bill Strickland, Mr. Freeman, Mr. Millhouse
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