This document describes early humans and their transition from nomadic hunter-gatherers to settled farmers during the Neolithic Age. It explains that early humans hunted and gathered food but began farming around 12,000 years ago, allowing them to establish permanent villages. As farming developed, humans domesticated animals and crops, learned new technologies like weaving and pottery, and participated in trade between communities, marking a significant change from their previous hunter-gatherer lifestyle.

1. Early Humans
This section describes the world’s
earliest humans and relates their
change from nomadic hunters to
farmers.
7AWH

2. Bellwork
#3 - Define the vocabulary for Ch. 1/L1 by
using your glossary.
Discovered off the
coast of Mexico,
scientist believe this
skull is 12,000 to
13,000 years old.
#4 - Read the “Primary Source: Paleolithic
Cave Paintings” on pg. 10 and answer the
“DBQ” at the bottom of that section.
#5 - Answer the “Then and Now” question (pg.
12)

3. The Oldest Human Fossil
Discovered off the
coast of Mexico,
scientist believe this
skull is 12,000 to
13,000 years old.

4. Otzi the Iceman
This 5,300
year old
mummy is the
oldest one
found in
Europe. You
can see a
reconstruction
of him on
page 12.

5. Early Humans
● “History” is the period of time since people
first learned how to write.
o It began 5,500 years ago (~3,500 BC)
● Two types of scientists help us understand
how people lived:
studies fossils and tools to learn
about past humans
o archeologists - _____________________
studies human societies.
o anthropologists - ___________________

6. Artifacts

7. Early Humans
● The earliest period of human history is the
Stone Age because people made tools and
weapons from stone.
o Paleolithic Age - earliest part of human
history.

8. Early Humans
Lascaux Cave in France

9. Early Humans
● Hunter-Gatherers - Early humans hunted
animals, caught fish, ate insects, and
gathered nuts, berries, fruits, grains, and
plants.
o They had to move alot. People who move regularly
are called nomads.
● Men - hunted, made weapons
● Women - stayed close to the campsite;
looked after children; gathered plants,
berries, and nuts.

10. Early Humans
● Adapting to the Environment
o Warm climate? ---> few clothing or shelter
o Cold climate? ---> need much more protection
 Fire gave warmth, lit the darkness,
scared animals, cooked food

11. Early Humans
● Ice Ages ---> long period of extreme cold
o 100,000-8,000 BC (that’s 92,000 years!!!)
o thick ice covered parts of Europe, Asia,
and North America.
● Early humans had to adapt their diet, build
better shelters, and use animal furs to make
warm clothing.
o Fire was key!

12. Early Humans
● Humans developed spoken language.
o made it easier to work together, pass on
knowledge.
● They also used art to express themselves.
o Cave paintings like we saw
before may have had
religious meaning.

13. Early Humans
● Paleolithic people were the first to use
technology.
o They used flint for tools, weapons.
 axes
 hunting spears
 fishhooks (bones)
 needles (bones)
● baskets, nets, clothing

14. Early Humans

15. Artifacts

16. Catal Huyuk (6700 BC)

17. Neolithic Age
● Neolithic Times -
people started
farming, building
communities,
producing goods,
and trading.
o The Neolithic Age
began after the
Ice Age.

18. Neolithic Age
● People began to domesticate animals for
food and clothing.
● People also began to farm so that they didn’t
have to be hunters-gatherers.
o Neolithic Age = the Farming Revolution
 revolution - changes that greatly affect
many areas of life.

19. Neolithic Age

21. Neolithic Age
● Farming began in different parts of the world.
o Asia - people grew wheat, barley, rice,
soybeans, and millet
o Mexico - people grew corn, squash, and
potatoes.
o Africa - people grew millet and sorghum.

22. Neolithic Age

23. Neolithic Age
● Farming allowed people to settle in one
place and build villages.
o The earliest known communities were in
the Middle East.
 Jericho (Jehr-ih-koh) - in present day
Israel; dates back to 8,000 BC.
 Catal Hüyük (Chah-tahl hoo-YOOK) -
in present day Turkey; dates back to
6700 BC.

24. Neolithic Age

25. Neolithic Age

26. Neolithic Age
● Living in villages provides greater security. It
also meant a steadier food supply.
● Trade occurred when communities produced
more than they needed.
● Artists began to paint and make pottery.
Others used fibers to weave cloth.
o this is called specialization
● Tools like the sickle made cutting grain
easier.
o These tools were made from metals like copper, tin,
or bronze.
 From 3,000-1,200 BC is known as the “Bronze

27. Neolithic Age