• Homo Sapiens spread out to populate, or become inhabitants of, almost every land area of the world.

The Human Migration• Archaeologists disagree on where modern

humans came from or how they spread• Study fossils and genetic information

Two Theories about Migration• “Out of Africa” theory suggests that humans

migrated from Africa to new places, replacing those that already lived there.

• Another theory is that large-brained humans developed separately in many different parts of the world.

New Evidence• New evidence from a skull found in 2007

suggests that humans were already in their modern form when they migrated from Africa.

• A 2008 genetic study gives a boost to the “out of Africa” theory.

• Still, many questions about human migration remain unanswered.

• 30,000 years ago, Homo sapiens were living in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Australia

Quick Facts- DO NOT WRITE!!

• Reasons for migration include:– The land on which they live no longer provides enough

food for growing populations– They need to escape immediate weather problems, such as

flooding, or long-term climate problems, such as drought– As population grow, people may want more space or need

to escape overcrowding that causes disease or conflict– Conflicts over food, land, or power sometimes push people

to explore new lands– Many people have a strong drive to explore that drives

them toward new lands.

Adapting to Varied Environments• As human migrated they had to adapt to new

environments.A Changing Climate• During the past two million years- including the

Stone Age- the Earth has had four long ice ages.• The last great Ice Age began about 70,000 years

ago, soon after modern humans appeared.• Well-watered grasslands became deserts• Sea-level dropped- exposing land bridges• Many animals had to migrate to find food• People had to follow the herds for foodStaying Warm• Ice-Age hunter gathers learned to adapt

– Built huts out of mammoth bones and covered with animal skin

– Using bone needles, they sewed snug clothing from animal skins and furs

– Kept fires burning day and nighthttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRRlEyplGQ8&feature=player_embedded

Forming Larger Communities• Some adapted to change by forming larger communities• Hunters could work together• Better defense against other nomadic groups• Clans formed (25-50 people)• Communities began to tradeDeveloping Complex Cultures: The Evidence of Art• Communities became more and more complexPaintings in Caves• Discovered Lascaux cave paintings in 1940• Some images were carved but most were painted• Made pigments by grinding up minerals of various colorsWhat Do They Tell Us?• Humans are capable of complex thoughts and actionsDeveloping Complex Cultures: Religious Beliefs and Practices• Religious beliefs and practices are a sign of a more complex culture

Burial Practices• Ice Age people buried their dead

– Children covered with ivory beads in Russian grave

Early Religious Practices• Cave paintings, statues, and burial sites

suggest how early humans reacted to mysterious and powerful sources.

• Suggest that they believed in animism- natural world is filled with spirits.

The Next Big Change• By the end of the Paleolithic Era,

humans…– Occupied many regions of the world– Developed a complex spoken language– Variety of tools and weapons– Adapted to different environments– Still lived in small groups as hunter-gatherers

• Around 10,000 years ago Neolithic Era began