the big bang. our galaxy: the milky way other galaxies
TRANSCRIPT
The 1st 4 Million Years
1859 Charles Darwin wrote On the Origin of Species.
Australopithecines & modern humans are hominids, & members of the primate family.
The 1st 4 Million Years
3 distinguishing characteristics:
Bi-pedalism Very large brain Lower position of larynx
The 1st 4 Million Years
Homo Habilis: Evolved 2-3 million years ago
with brain 50% larger Seeds, grass, leaves, fruits,
berries, low protein Extinct by 1 million years
The 1st 4 Million Years
Homo Erectus: 1.8 million years ago Resembled modern man from the neck down
Brain 1/3 larger More protein - Social
The 1st 4 Million Years
Homo Sapiens: 400,000 to 100,000 years ago.
Brain size increased by another 1/3
Greater speech capacity, expanded diet
The 1st 4 Million Years
Paleolithic (Old Stone Age): Stone tools Scavenging/Foraging Much later hunting Fire - not used for food.
The 1st 4 Million Years
2 – parent family Women gathered, cooked,
reared the children while the men hunted. Lived in small groups migrating to “chase” their food.
The 1st 4 Million Years
3-5 hours daily for food, shelter and clothing. Time spent gathering, organizing, and passing on information, art, & religion.
Agricultural Revolution
Neolithic (New Stone Age) Caused by changes in climate 1st stage: semicultivation,
followed by cultivation. Transitions occurred
independently in various place of the world.
Agricultural Revolution
Domestication of plants & animals occurred independently around the globe.
Exceptions were the Americas, Central Asia & Africa.
Agricultural Revolution
Global Warming in the Holocene period (beginning 9,000 B.C.E.) created environmental changes that reduced game & wild plant supplies.
Life in Neolithic Communities
Advantages of food production-stored extra, sustained health.
Society organized in kinship groups.
Cultural Expressions
Worshiped ancestral and nature spirits.
Used the megaliths Spread of language groups