Prehistory refers to periods of time before written records. During the Paleolithic era in Western Europe, hunter-gatherer humans lived in caves and left paintings of animals on cave walls. These paintings provide insight into their beliefs and culture despite the lack of written records. During the Neolithic era in the Near East, settled agricultural societies developed where people domesticated plants and animals. Evidence of their beliefs can be seen in structures like communal buildings and large megalithic monuments used for burials. As societies became more complex, representations of humans changed and communal identity emerged as important.

1. Prehistory History without a written word

2. DISCLAIMER
This presentation is an overview of the material in your text. It is not
comprehensive, nor is it meant to be. This presentation allows you to introduce
yourself to concepts and images in the respective chapter. Best practice says to
view this presentation with your book open, as many of the images in this
presentation are small or incomplete.

3. Where in the
world are we?
Near East in Neolithic Era
Climate good for growing
crops and raising animals
Fertile soil and flooding
waters for growing crops
Western Europe in
Paleolithic Era
Mountainous, so lots
of caves
Heavily forested, so
good for foraging and
hunting

4. Guiding Historical
Events
Paleolithic Period, ca. 30,000—9,000BCE
Characterized By:
1. Hunter-Gatherer/Nomadic Culture
2. Cave Paintings
3. Primarily of animals
4. Humans seem peripheral
5. Strong presence of Female Figurines
Neolithic Period, ca.8,000—2,300 BCE
Characterized By:
1. Domesticated animals
2. Systematic Agriculture
3. Weaving, Metal working, and Pottery
4. Human Settlement
5. Monolithic Funerary Structures

5. Guiding Questions
• How do we know we are
human?
• How do we know what people
believe and privilege when they
do not have a written language?
Guiding questions are meant to organize a large
bulk of content. Rather than working from a strict
chronological framework, we will try to answer
broader questions in order to put the past in
context.

6. In the Stone Age ,
our ancestors began
to make symbols and
to decorate objects.
They put their ideas
into images.
How do we know we are human? We think symbolically.

7. In the Stone Age, our
ancestors began to
create with routine
and performance in
mind.
How do we know we are human? We think ritually. We
make images with “magical” thinking, for shamanic
performance, and/or for educating younger generations.

8. Paleolithic Cave Paintings
Lascaux Caves, France
Altamira Caves, Spain
Peche Merle, France
Self Study:
What materials were used to create cave paintings?
Why were cave paintings created? Think about WHO
created the paintings and WHERE . Chauvet Caves, France

9. As people settle, they
represent humans and
animals in different ways.
Compare the Paleolithic
birdman with the Neolithic
humans from the rock shelter
painting at Lerida, Spain,
depicted below.
What is the primary subject
in each painting? How are
humans represented
differently in each painting?
In what ways does human
settlement changes the
human psyche to bring about
these changes?

10. We create
cooperatively for a
common purpose. As
Neolithic people settle,
they acquire wealth
and so a need to
protect it.
How do we know we are human? We think communally,
and in the Neolithic age the community includes the
dead.

11. Neolithic Communities and Funerary Structures Newgrange, Ireland
Stonehenge,
England
Catal Huyuk, ancient
Anatolia, modern Turkey
Jericho, Palestine
Self Study:
How do the living and the dead commune together?
What makes civilizations and funerary structures like
this possible? Think about materials, population
numbers, and community economics as part of the
answer.

12. In subsequent materials, you will explore:
• The exaggeration of imagery in the Paleolithic era
• Archeological study of cave paintings