Chapter One: First PeoplesPopulating the PlanetPopulating the Planet
to 10,000 BCEto 10,000 BCEpages 10-32pages 10-32
Where were the first people?
• Africa 250,000 years agoAfrica 250,000 years ago• Asia 70,000 years agoAsia 70,000 years ago• Australia 60,000-40,000 years agoAustralia 60,000-40,000 years ago• Europe 45,000 years agoEurope 45,000 years ago• Americas 30,000-15,000 years agoAmericas 30,000-15,000 years ago
• Middle East (100,000 ya) to Europe (45,000 ya)
–Similarities across long distances. What does that mean?
Into Australia 60,000-40,000 ya• From Indonesia, From Indonesia, 11stst use of boats use of boats• By 1788 ~300,000 people w/250 languagesBy 1788 ~300,000 people w/250 languages
–Separate, but loosely connectedSeparate, but loosely connected
• Hunting/Gathering/Simple Hunting/Gathering/Simple technology persisted until modern technology persisted until modern timestimes
Clovis Culture• “Clovis point” projectile across
North America–Disappeared after large animal
extinctions (ex. mammoths)– Why did many species of large animals go
extinct?
• After extinction regional diversification
Into the Pacific 3,500-1,000 ya• Last phaseLast phase• Intentional colonizationIntentional colonization
–Transported plants and animalsTransported plants and animals–Profound environmental impactsProfound environmental impacts
The First Human Societies• Small groups
– 20-25 organized by kinship– As low as 10,000 total– Life expectancy ~35 years old
• Egalitarian but with structure• Worked less hours than
agricultural societies
• Environment Impacts
Religion and Spirituality• Ceremonial spaces,
but no clear evidence of specifics–Mono and polytheism
• Cyclical view of time–Female/life giver
• Venus Figurines
Settling Down: The Great TransitionEurasia after 25,000 ya
• Tools perfected (micro-blades)• Collection of wild grains• Ice Age ended (16-10,000 ya)• More permanent settlements• Domestication of the dog• What is the next step?
Comparing Paleolithic Societies
• The San of Southern Africa (Ju/’hoansi)
• The
Chumash of Southern California
Big Picture Question 2In what ways did various Paleolithic
societies differ from one another, and how did they change over time?
Big Question 3Which statements in this chapter seem to be reliable and solidly based on facts, and which
ones are more speculative and uncertain?
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