Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Prehistoric People

Prehistoric People

Section 1Section 1

The Paleolithic Age

The Paleolithic Age

Sahara Desert: 8,000 years agoSahara Desert: 8,000 years ago

Sahara Desert: TodaySahara Desert: Today

PrehistoryPrehistory•Period of time before the

invention of writing•Archeologists study artifacts to

learn about prehistoric times (before civilization)

•900,000 years ago people lived in grasslands of Eastern and Southern Africa

•Africa was once a green grassland

•Period of time before the invention of writing

•Archeologists study artifacts to learn about prehistoric times (before civilization)

•900,000 years ago people lived in grasslands of Eastern and Southern Africa

•Africa was once a green grassland

Change in climate:Change in climate:

•Climate became cold•Ocean waters froze; uncovering land

•Land bridges connected Africa to Europe and Asia

•Led to migration: the movement from one place to another

•Climate became cold•Ocean waters froze; uncovering land

•Land bridges connected Africa to Europe and Asia

•Led to migration: the movement from one place to another

Paleolithic AgePaleolithic Age•Stone Age•Hunter-gatherers

•Stone Age•Hunter-gatherers•2.3 million – 10,000 years ago

•2.3 million – 10,000 years ago

Finding FoodFinding Food•Lived in small bands (groups) of

40-50•Lived to be 20-25 years old•Nearly half children died before

1st year•Home Territory – bands searched

for food within home territory; usually about 2 square miles

•Women & children gathered•Men hunted

•Lived in small bands (groups) of 40-50

•Lived to be 20-25 years old•Nearly half children died before

1st year•Home Territory – bands searched

for food within home territory; usually about 2 square miles

•Women & children gathered•Men hunted

Making ToolsMaking Tools•Made life easier•Learned to shape sticks and stones by hitting them together to make them sharp and more useful

•Flakes – long, sharp edged chips; used to carve wood

•Made life easier•Learned to shape sticks and stones by hitting them together to make them sharp and more useful

•Flakes – long, sharp edged chips; used to carve wood

Olduvan PebbleOlduvan Pebble

•Earliest shaped stones•Named after Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania, Africa

•Made of stone about size of fist

•Earliest shaped stones•Named after Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania, Africa

•Made of stone about size of fist

First Stone Tools:First Stone Tools:OldowanOldowan Pebble ChoppersPebble Choppers

FireFire•1st fire was probably caused by lightening

•Man created fire by rubbing two sticks together

•Uses of fire: warmth, dry, hunting, clearing out brush, cooking

•1st fire was probably caused by lightening

•Man created fire by rubbing two sticks together

•Uses of fire: warmth, dry, hunting, clearing out brush, cooking

ShelterShelter•Earliest people camped in open•Protection was provided by:

pits, river beds, overhanging rocks

•Only used caves in emergency situations

(At first!)

•Earliest people camped in open•Protection was provided by:

pits, river beds, overhanging rocks

•Only used caves in emergency situations

(At first!)

Remains of shelters consisting of mammoth bones date around 23,000 years ago. Remains of shelters consisting of mammoth bones date around 23,000 years ago.

ClothingClothing

•Animal Skins•Provided protection & warmth

•Determined where people lived – could now move places that were colder and wetter

•Animal Skins•Provided protection & warmth

•Determined where people lived – could now move places that were colder and wetter

•Sounds….Pointing …..Hand Signals

•Language made it possible to work together, share ideas, pass on

beliefs and stories

•Sounds….Pointing …..Hand Signals

•Language made it possible to work together, share ideas, pass on

beliefs and stories

Language