Unit 2 – VocabularyEarly Humans and

SocietiesMrs. Kercher

7th Grade

History - the study of the pastCulture – the knowledge, beliefs, customs,

and values of a group of peopleArchaeology – the study of the past based

on what the people left behindFossil – a part or imprint of something that

was once aliveArtifacts – objects created by and used by

humans

Primary Source – an account of an event created by someone who took part in or witnessed the event

Secondary Source – information gathered by someone who did not take part in or witness an event

Geography – study of the earth’s physical and cultural features

Prehistory – time in history before there was writing

Hominid – an early ancestor of humansAncestor – a relative who lived in the pastHomo habilis – handy manHomo erectus – upright manHomo sapiens – wise manTool – any handheld object that has been

modified to help a person accomplish a taskPaleolithic Era – the first part of the Old Stone

Age Society – a community of people who share a

common cultureHunter-gathers – people who hunt animals and

gather wild plants, seeds, fruits, and nuts to survive

Migrate – to move to new placesIce Ages – the freezing times during historyLand bridge – a strip of land connecting two

continentsMesolithic Era – the Middle Stone Age; man

found new uses for bone and stone tool; bow Neolithic Era – the New Stone Age; man could

polish stones and make fireDomestication – process of changing plants or

animals to make them more useful to humansAgriculture – farmingMegaliths – huge stones used as monuments

GUESS THE TERM BEING REPRESENTED BY THE

PICTURES

HOMINID FOSSIL

SECONDARY DOMESTICATIONSOURCE

LAND BRIDGE NEOLITHIC ERA

MEGALITHS ARTIFACTS