Post on 14-Dec-2015
Do Now:
What do you think it means to be civilized?
What does it mean when something is revolutionary?
Discussion led by:
What does BCE Mean? Before the Common Era. (b.c.e.) and Common Era
(c.e.)
A non-religious alternative to BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini – Year of Our Lord, Latin)
Paleolithic Era (“Old Stone Age”)
Nomadic Hunter-Gatherers migrate from Africa to Eurasia, Australia, and the Americas.
Why do you think people were migrating?
Paleolithic Era
Hunter-Gatherer Clans composed of small groups (30-50)
Were nomadic; always in search of animals and edible plants
NO permanent shelters or many personal belongings.
Moved because: Lack of food and/or water Climate Changes Natural Disasters
Paleolithic Era (Social)
Believed Social Equality. Why?
No concept of private property
Status determined by: age, hunting skill, fertility Possible gender equality related to food
production Men and women did the same work.
Paleolithic Era (Social/Culture)
How would archeologists know that there was social equality?
ART! Venus figurines demonstrate that early humans valued fertility (ability to reproduce)
Paleolithic Era (Technology)
Use of fire!
For light Cooking Heat in cold environments Protect against Predators Aid hunting and Foraging How could fire help hunting?
Paleolithic Era (Technology)
Tools were adapted to different environments.
Made from stone and wood Scrapers nets rafts axe
Paleolithic Era (Culture)
Big game hunting implies that Paleolithic people had spoken language. Why?
Hunting trips required planning/communication
Development of weapons Use of disguises Strategy/tactics
Using fires to drive animals into kill zones
Paleolithic Era (Culture)
People had a lot of “down time”
7 hours of hunting every 2-3 days Developed animistic religion
Believed that animals, rivers, other natural elements embodied spirits
Displayed on cave paintings
Paleolithic Era (Economic)
Labor structure based on gender
Women forage, men hunt
Little specialization and trade occurring
Art, beads, tools, animal skin clothes.
Paleolithic EraMost historians believe the greatest achievement of Paleolithic Peoples was the distance they migrated over the Earth’s surface.