Title: The Origin of Humans
1The Origin of Humans
2- Theories on prehistory and early man constantly
change as new evidence come to light. Louis
Leakey
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4Evolution
5Evolution
- Charles Darwin Theory of Evolution
- Gradual change over many generations
- Widely held notion that all life is related and
has descended from a common ancestor. - Complex creatures evolve from more simplistic
ancestors over time. - Natural Selection (Survival of the Fittest)
Random genetic mutations occur and the good
aspects are kept to aid survival - Failure to evolve in response to the
environmental changes can and often does lead to
extinction.
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7- 20th Century archaeological discoveries in
Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Southern
Africa indicate that humankind originated in
Africa.
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9Old Stone Age Paleolithic Age
- Started around 2 million years ago and ended
around 8000 B.C.E - Nomadic moving from place to place hunting and
gathering - Hominids Any member of the family of two-legged
primates that includes all humans.
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11Australopithecine
12Australopithecine
- 4.4 to 2.8 millions years ago
- Some teeth were human-like
- Approximately 1.2 m tall
- Molars like chimpanzee
- Walked upright
- Arm bone structure different than ape
- There are many types of australopithecines that
continued to evolve over millions of years. - Characterized by heavily brow ridges, large skull
and slopping forehead - Walked slightly bow-legged
13Australopithecine
14Example of Australopithecine Lucy
- Discovered in Ethiopia in 1974 by Donald Johanson
- The skeleton was 40 complete
- About 3.5 million years old
- 25-30 year old female
- Named after the Beatles song Lucy in the Sky
with Diamonds
15Homo Habilis Handy Man
16Homo Habilis Handy Man
- The first true humans
- Found in East Africa
- Nomadic
- Created basic stone tools
- Main diet was fruits vegetables
- Built campfires but did not know how to make fire
17Homo Habilis Handy Man
18Homo Erectus Upright Man
19Homo Erectus Upright Man
- Existed between 1.8 million years ago and 300,000
years ago - First to look like people
- No Chin Low long Skull Large Molars
- Thick brow ridges Protruding Jaw
- Skeleton more robust than modern humans which
indicates great strength - Found in Africa, Asia and Europe
- (about 1 million years ago began to leave Africa
because the Ice Age produced bridges allowing for
travel) - Tool making skills were considerably improved
Stone axes and knives - Had fire making skills
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21Homo Erectus and Modern Man
22Australopithecus Homo Erectus
23Homo Sapiens Wise Man
24Homo Sapiens Wise Man
- First appeared about 500,000 years ago
- Skull characteristics of both Homo Erectus
Modern Humans - Skeleton and teeth are smaller than Homo Erectus,
but larger than Modern Humans - Large brow ridges, receding forehead and chin
25Homo Sapiens Wise Man
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27Homo Habilis Homo Sapien
28Tools of Homo Sapiens
29Neanderthals
30Neanderthals
- Existed between 230,000 and 30,000 years ago.
- Europe and the Middle East
- Named after the Neander Valley in Germany
- Protruding jaw Receding forehead
- Short, Solid Short Limbs
- Mid-face area protruded, probably adaptation
to cold - Height Average 56
- Extraordinarily strong by todays standards
- Skeletons showed they lived extremely hard lives
31Neanderthals
- Great Hunters
- First to bury their dead
- Lived in caves and tents
- Known as cavemen
- Made clothes from animal skin
- and used animal tusks of animals
- to make needles
- Stone axes
32Neanderthals
33Homo Sapiens Sapiens Wise, Wise Man
34Homo Sapiens Sapiens Wise, Wise Man
- Replaced the Neanderthals
- Cro-Magnon People (Modern Man)
- First appeared about 195,000 years ago
- Made more delicate efficient tools
- Carved fishhooks, harpoons needles
- Began to build shelters out of animal skin
- Paintings left on cave walls
35Homo Sapiens Sapiens Wise, Wise Man
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37Tools
38Cave Painting
39Middle Stone Age Mesolithic Age
- 8000 B.C.E to 6000 B.C.E.
- Climate grew warmer grasslands forests
- Improved weapons tools
- 1st pottery, which was used to store food water
- Besides fishhooks harpoons, they weaved nets
used canoes for fishing and travel - Domesticated dogs for hunting protection
40The New Stone Age Neolithic Age
- 6000 B.C.E. to 3500 B.C.E.
- Planted seeds started farming
- Farming is known as the Neolithic Revolution
- Kept herds of animals (cattle sheep), which
added meat to the diet - Used cattle oxen to pull plows
41The New Stone Age Neolithic Age
- Built sturdy houses villages started to form
- Decorative pottery, dishes ornaments
- Weaved cloth from plant fiber animal hair
- Polished stone
- Invention of the wheel axels and later simple
carts
42The New Stone Age Neolithic Age
- Specialization of labour Separation and
assignment of jobs according to the skills of
individuals - Markets and trading
- Economy, , class system
- More leisure time
- There was a form of government, which regulated
customs and rules for protection - Culture developed
- Stonehenge was built
43The Bronze Age
- 4000 B.C.E.
- Bronze ended the New Stone Age
- Bronze was made from copper tin
- Bronze was 1st found in the Middle East
- beginning of a metals industry
- Stronger weapons, tools, swords, shields
44The Bronze Age
- Bronze improved productivity in farming Digging
sticks, plows, tools of irrigation and sickles - The potters wheel invented
- Simple sailing and navigation trade with
distant places - Development of specialization urbanization
- Urbanization Growth of cities due to migration
of people to them
45Civilization
- Centralized Government
- Occupational Specialization
- Agricultural Intensification
- State Religion
- Class Structure
- Development of Writing Science
- Merchants Trade
46Rivers Civilizations
- Civilizations relied on rivers for
- Steady source of water
- Fertile soil
- Fish to supplement their diet
- Transportation
- Communication throughTrade and Exchange of ideas