The document summarizes life during the Stone Age, beginning with the earliest humans around 1.75 million years ago who used stone tools. It then discusses the four major groups of early humans: Homo Habilis, Homo Erectus, Neanderthals, and Cro-Magnon. Key developments included the use of fire, improved tools and weapons, art, religion, and the transition to agriculture during the Neolithic period. Cave paintings from the Paleolithic at sites like Lascaux provide early evidence of religious beliefs, while sculptures like the Venus of Willendorf offer clues about Paleolithic culture and spirituality.

1. Living in the Stone AgeLiving in the Stone Age

2. Examining History:Examining History:
PrehistoryPrehistory
 PRE-HISTORYPRE-HISTORY- period before written history- period before written history
 Approximately 1.75 million years ago, earliestApproximately 1.75 million years ago, earliest
people first began using small pieces of rockpeople first began using small pieces of rock
as toolsas tools
 Massive development of humans over years inMassive development of humans over years in
4 major groups:4 major groups:
1) Homo Habilis (2 million years ago)1) Homo Habilis (2 million years ago)
2) Homo Erectus (1 million years ago)2) Homo Erectus (1 million years ago)
3) Neanderthal (100 000 years ago)3) Neanderthal (100 000 years ago)
4) Cro-Magnon (50 000 years ago)4) Cro-Magnon (50 000 years ago)

3. Development of HumansDevelopment of Humans
Homo HabilisHomo Habilis
 Latin for “handy man”Latin for “handy man”
 Lived in eastern Africa > spreadLived in eastern Africa > spread
north to Asianorth to Asia
 fossilized human bones foundfossilized human bones found
with stone tools and animalwith stone tools and animal
fossilsfossils
 Skulls – humans had a flatterSkulls – humans had a flatter
head with a brain only 2/3 size;head with a brain only 2/3 size;
approximately 1.5 m tallapproximately 1.5 m tall
 Built shelters of braches andBuilt shelters of braches and
collected bird eggs and wildcollected bird eggs and wild
berries for food; hunted wild pigsberries for food; hunted wild pigs
 Tools / weapons = rocks,Tools / weapons = rocks,
braches, sharp stonesbraches, sharp stones
 No clothesNo clothes
 Did not know how to use fireDid not know how to use fire
Homo ErectusHomo Erectus
 Latin for “upright man”Latin for “upright man”
 Discoveries of “Java Man” (Indonesia) andDiscoveries of “Java Man” (Indonesia) and
“Peking Man” (China”“Peking Man” (China”
 Lived in Afria, south Europe, AsiaLived in Afria, south Europe, Asia
 Skulls- humans had long, flat and sharply angledSkulls- humans had long, flat and sharply angled
at back (between ape and human head)at back (between ape and human head)
 Thighbone- identical to modern humans > walkThighbone- identical to modern humans > walk
uprightupright
 Charred animals bones found = they used fire toCharred animals bones found = they used fire to
cookcook
 Belief that homo erectus was a descendant ofBelief that homo erectus was a descendant of
homo habilishomo habilis
 Make fire= first by coals or volcanic ash; later byMake fire= first by coals or volcanic ash; later by
friction= made life easier as they could survive infriction= made life easier as they could survive in
colder climatescolder climates
 Tools / weapons= bones, rocks, blades forTools / weapons= bones, rocks, blades for
carving, spearscarving, spears
Homo SapiensHomo Sapiens
 Latin for “reasoning man”Latin for “reasoning man”
 250 000 years ago= emergence of Homo Sapiens250 000 years ago= emergence of Homo Sapiens
who evolved from homo erectuswho evolved from homo erectus
 is the species to which all modern day peopleis the species to which all modern day people
belongbelong

5. Neanderthals vs CroNeanderthals vs Cro
MagnonMagnon
NEANDERATHALNEANDERATHAL
 Neander Valley- GermanyNeander Valley- Germany
 6 cm taller than homo erectus;6 cm taller than homo erectus;
thick eyebrow ridgethick eyebrow ridge
 Tools= knives, spear sharpenersTools= knives, spear sharpeners
made from chipped rockmade from chipped rock
 Animals hides worn as clothesAnimals hides worn as clothes
 Lived in caves kept warm with fireLived in caves kept warm with fire
 First to bury the dead (gravesFirst to bury the dead (graves
with bodies carefully preparedwith bodies carefully prepared
CRO MAGNONCRO MAGNON
 South France- clearing awaySouth France- clearing away
earth from back of a rock shelterearth from back of a rock shelter
locally known as Cro-Magnonlocally known as Cro-Magnon
 First appeared in Europe 30 000First appeared in Europe 30 000
years ago following ice ageyears ago following ice age
 Brain as large as modern dayBrain as large as modern day
human; approx. 2 metres tall withhuman; approx. 2 metres tall with
modern “faces”modern “faces”
 Tools= slim, sharp edge blades,Tools= slim, sharp edge blades,
chisels, knives, spearheads,chisels, knives, spearheads,
lamps (stone bowl with animallamps (stone bowl with animal
grease and lit fur or moss)grease and lit fur or moss)
 Animals bones and teeth used toAnimals bones and teeth used to
make musical instruments,make musical instruments,
jewelleryjewellery
 Cave paintingsCave paintings
 Fierce warriorsFierce warriors
 Wiped out NeanderthalsWiped out Neanderthals

6. Great Leap ForwardGreat Leap Forward
 35 000 years ago when changes brought about innovation,35 000 years ago when changes brought about innovation,
creativity to humans (Homo Sapiens Sapiens)creativity to humans (Homo Sapiens Sapiens)
2 FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES OCCURRED:2 FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES OCCURRED:
1)1) Development of modern anatomyDevelopment of modern anatomy
2)2) Beginning of innovative behaviourBeginning of innovative behaviour
EFFECTSEFFECTS
 Production of crafted tools and more sophisticatedProduction of crafted tools and more sophisticated
weaponsweapons
 development of trade for raw materials and ornamentsdevelopment of trade for raw materials and ornaments
 Emergence of sculptures, paintings and crafted objectsEmergence of sculptures, paintings and crafted objects
that showcased beauty and religionthat showcased beauty and religion

7. ““Lithos” = stoneLithos” = stone
Paleolithic AgePaleolithic Age
 Greek “paleo” meansGreek “paleo” means
“old”“old”
 Upper Paleolithic ageUpper Paleolithic age
was 50 000 – 10 000was 50 000 – 10 000
years agoyears ago
Neolithic AgeNeolithic Age
 Greek “neo” meansGreek “neo” means
“new”“new”
 Neolithic RevolutionNeolithic Revolution
occurred betweenoccurred between
9000 – 4000 BCE9000 – 4000 BCE

8. Comparing theComparing the
Stone AgesStone Ages
PALEOLITHICPALEOLITHIC
 small groups of 5-10small groups of 5-10
familiesfamilies
 Nomadic to semi-Nomadic to semi-
nomadicnomadic
 Closer relationshipsCloser relationships
between bands of peoplebetween bands of people
ie. Cro-Magnon societyie. Cro-Magnon society
NEOLITHICNEOLITHIC
 People abandoned semi-People abandoned semi-
nomadic life and begannomadic life and began
farmingfarming
 Agricultural revolutionAgricultural revolution
was a progression of thewas a progression of the
“Great Leap Forward”“Great Leap Forward”
 planting of cropsplanting of crops
 domesticating of animalsdomesticating of animals
 Better tools & weaponsBetter tools & weapons

9. Social Structure:Social Structure:
Paleolithic AgePaleolithic Age
 closer social relationshipscloser social relationships
 Social stratificationSocial stratification== emergence of leadershipemergence of leadership
and beginning of social classesand beginning of social classes
 Social roles: patriarchal; men were big gameSocial roles: patriarchal; men were big game
huntershunters
 women captured small game and madewomen captured small game and made
clothing; women & children were gatherersclothing; women & children were gatherers

10. Social Structure:Social Structure:
Neolithic AgeNeolithic Age
 Increasing knowledge = more control of food supplyIncreasing knowledge = more control of food supply
 End of Ice Age = better for agricultureEnd of Ice Age = better for agriculture
 As population grew, so did the competition for landAs population grew, so did the competition for land
 Shift fromShift from semi-nomadicsemi-nomadic toto permanent towns and citiespermanent towns and cities
(first city was Jericho, in Mesopotamia between 8000 –(first city was Jericho, in Mesopotamia between 8000 –
7000 BCE) and more occupations7000 BCE) and more occupations
 Trade by barter system (Trade by barter system (obsidianobsidian – most valued traded– most valued traded
material traded for farm produce)material traded for farm produce)
 Development of hierarchical class systemDevelopment of hierarchical class system

11. Religion & Art inReligion & Art in
Paleolithic AgePaleolithic Age
 The Paleolithic Age (Cro-Magnon) was the first toThe Paleolithic Age (Cro-Magnon) was the first to
develop fine art as drawingsdevelop fine art as drawings
 CAVE PAINTINGS of deer, horses and animals whichCAVE PAINTINGS of deer, horses and animals which
are now extinctare now extinct
 cultural explosion in art as more tools, jewellery, andcultural explosion in art as more tools, jewellery, and
sculptures/ figurines of clay, ivory and stone emergedsculptures/ figurines of clay, ivory and stone emerged
 More advanced spiritual practices with graves foundMore advanced spiritual practices with graves found
jewellery and spears made of mammoth tusks buriedjewellery and spears made of mammoth tusks buried
with bodies = this suggests a ritual burial with a view ofwith bodies = this suggests a ritual burial with a view of
an afterlifean afterlife

12. Caves at Lascaux [lass co]Caves at Lascaux [lass co]
 Painting at Lascaux Caves (south central France) found in 15 000 BCEPainting at Lascaux Caves (south central France) found in 15 000 BCE
 Painters used irregularities in cave walls to add a 3-D effect to figuresPainters used irregularities in cave walls to add a 3-D effect to figures
 Paintings portray an awe and reverence towards animals which shows thatPaintings portray an awe and reverence towards animals which shows that
for the first time people were expressing religious beliefs (rituals related tofor the first time people were expressing religious beliefs (rituals related to
hunting magic; sacrifices of animals)hunting magic; sacrifices of animals)

13. Venus of WillendorfVenus of Willendorf
 Small sculptures such asSmall sculptures such as
thethe Venus of WillendorfVenus of Willendorf
were common to thewere common to the
Paleolithic AgePaleolithic Age
 Sculpture featuresSculpture features
exaggerated curves (largeexaggerated curves (large
breasts and wide hips) onbreasts and wide hips) on
female figurefemale figure
 Venus figurines areVenus figurines are
symbolic of the importancesymbolic of the importance
of fertility of a motherof fertility of a mother
goddessgoddess

14. Weapons & TechnologyWeapons & Technology
PALEOLITHICPALEOLITHIC
 Better hunting strategies dueBetter hunting strategies due
to co-operation and moreto co-operation and more
lethal weaponslethal weapons
 Better tools for skinningBetter tools for skinning
game, preparing food,game, preparing food,
sewing clothessewing clothes
 Cro-Magnons stored foodCro-Magnons stored food
over winter showing moreover winter showing more
planningplanning
 bow and arrow around 20bow and arrow around 20
000 BCE000 BCE
NEOLITHICNEOLITHIC
 efficient tools whichefficient tools which
helped farm and makehelped farm and make
weapons and toolsweapons and tools
 Domestication of animalsDomestication of animals
to do manual work andto do manual work and
the planting of cropsthe planting of crops
freed people from thefreed people from the
pursuit of foodpursuit of food
 leisure activities (art,leisure activities (art,
music, sports, religion)music, sports, religion)

17. STONEHENGESTONEHENGE
 Stonehenge is located on Salisbury Plain in EnglandStonehenge is located on Salisbury Plain in England
 Created 2800-1500 BCECreated 2800-1500 BCE
 Stonehenge is an example of a Neolithic megalithStonehenge is an example of a Neolithic megalith
(megalith = Greek for “big stones”)(megalith = Greek for “big stones”)
 Exact purpose is unknown: religious rituals,Exact purpose is unknown: religious rituals,
agricultural markers or astronomical observatories?agricultural markers or astronomical observatories?

18. Mystery of StonehengeMystery of Stonehenge
 Stonehenge was built in 3 major stagesStonehenge was built in 3 major stages
over 1300 years (tribal people, Beakerover 1300 years (tribal people, Beaker
people, Battle Axe folk peoplepeople, Battle Axe folk people
 Megaliths stones approx. 45 t and HeelMegaliths stones approx. 45 t and Heel
Stone is 31 tStone is 31 t
 Great debate over the positioning of theGreat debate over the positioning of the
stonesstones
 stones reflect an understanding ofstones reflect an understanding of
astronomy and mathematics (positionsastronomy and mathematics (positions
reflect sunrise, eclipses of sun and moonreflect sunrise, eclipses of sun and moon
 stones could be a religious ritual to sun orstones could be a religious ritual to sun or
moon godsmoon gods
 Others believe stones were built to showOthers believe stones were built to show
changing seasons for agriculturechanging seasons for agriculture

19. Major Innovations ofMajor Innovations of
the Stone Agethe Stone Age
 More complex human societies (from semi-More complex human societies (from semi-
nomadic to permanent cities; domestication ofnomadic to permanent cities; domestication of
animals; leisure time)animals; leisure time)
 Development of social hierarchiesDevelopment of social hierarchies
 Development of alliances and cooperationDevelopment of alliances and cooperation
 Marriage customsMarriage customs
 Development of trade goods and routesDevelopment of trade goods and routes
 Religious ritualsReligious rituals
 Refined sense of artistic beautyRefined sense of artistic beauty

20. ALL THESEALL THESE
LEAD TO THELEAD TO THE
FIRSTFIRST
“CIVILIZATIO“CIVILIZATIO
N”N”