World History

Pre-History

I.          Scientists Search For Human Origins

          A.           Pre-History- the long period of time before people developed writing.

          B.          Mary Leakey- first scientist to find pre-historic remains of humans in Tanzania, Africa.

          C.          Hominids- found by Leakey's group and they are human beings and other creatures                               that walk upright.

          D.          Researchers today use two main forms of dating artifacts from their investigations.

                    1.          Radiocarbon dating- dates the rate of decay of radioactive carbon atoms for artifacts and fossils up to 50,000 years ago.

                    2.          Potassium-argon method- can date samples of rocks that are up to 3 billion years           old.

          E.          Homo-Habilus- appeared in Eastern Africa and was skillful.  Leakey discovered the remains.  The larger brains led scientists to believe that this was the ancestor of modern humans. 

          F.          Ages:  Stone Age divided into 3 parts in order as follows.

                    1.          Paleolithic (Old Stone Age)

                    2.          Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age)

                    3.          Neolithic (New Stone Age)

          G.          Homo Erectus- "upright man" appeared before homo habilus disappeared.  He had a bigger brain and body than H.H. Many migrated around the world into China, India, Southeast Asia and Europe.

                    1.          He hunted and developed fire to survive predators.

                    2.          Possibly they were curious about the unknown and moved.

 II.          Modern Humans Spread Across the World

          A.  500,000-200,000 years ago Homo erectus evolved into Homo sapiens.

                    1.  Brains were larger.

                    2.  Sapien means, "wise".

          B.  The first evidence of Homo sapiens were discovered in the Neander Valley in Germany. 

                    1.          "Thal" means, "valley", in German.

                    2.           They lived in caves; hunted medium sized animals such as deer, and used wood and animal skins for shelter.  They seem to have had a caring community.

          C.  Neanderthals eventually developed into modern human ancestors that were called homo sapien sapiens.

                    1.          This means "doubly wise".

                    2.          Cro-Magnons were found in France.  (French word)

                    3.          Cro-Magnons seemed to have had high language skills that gave them dominance over Neanderthals.

          D.  Modern Homo sapiens Revolutionized Human Life.

                    1.          A new tool kit with over 100 different tools made hunting and fishing very profitable.

                    2.          Stones, blades, fishhooks, and a chisel-like cutter to cut bone and antler into other tools made this new tool kit spread.

                    3.          Art that has been attributed to the Stone Age has been found in caves across the world.  From Africa, to Europe to Australia. 

                    4.          There are three major theories as to why the paintings were created.

                              a.          Magical significance to give hunters power over prey.

                              b.          Pictorial textbook to help young hunters identify prey.

                              c.          Perhaps, an initiation rite of passage from childhood to adulthood.

III.          Neolithic People Began to Farm.

          A.  Jarmo, in the Zagros Mountains (modern day Iraq) was the first settlement where farming was evident. 

                    1.          Seeds were found in distinct layers of the Earth indicating a farming lifestyle.

                    2.          Mud-walled houses and elegant jewelry, cups and bowls indicated a non-hunter/gatherer state.

                    B.  Many factors caused the agricultural revolution.

                              1.          The Fertile Crescent is thought to be the beginning point of farming versus hunting/gathering.  (This goes right along with the belief in Creation.)

                              2.          As the Ice Age began to weaken warmer temperatures caused vegetation to weaken and dryer grains grew better.  However, these grains could be gathered and stored, which provided a more sustaining life than hunting/gathering.

                              3.          As grain supported families and large groups the population grew and was forced to spread out and hunters/gatherers were forced to farm with the masses.

                              4.          Animals were domesticated for human use.  They were work animals and also used for milk, meat, wool, etc.

                              5.          Farming trends were worldwide.  From the Fertile Crescent to China to Central and South America.

                              6.          Villages grew and prospered.

                                        a.          Permanent settlements soon followed the growing farming trends.

                                        b.          Civilization was born with highly skilled workers, such as stonecutters making obsidian materials (mirrors, jewelry, and knives), art, common beliefs and cultural centers.

                                        c.          However, this new civilization had drawbacks.

                                                            i.   Disease was often rampant in such close quarters.          

                                                            ii.          Prosperity made the civilization a target to envious neighbors and roving nomads.

                                                            iii.          Natural disasters, such as floods, fire or a long drought, could wipe out an entire civilization.

                                        d.  Despite the drawbacks villages continued to grow and eventually became towns and cities, which also will eventually grow into the great empires of history!