1.1 Human Origins in Africa

Prehistory

Prehistory: it is the time before the invention of writing which was roughly invented 3500 B.C (Before Christ).
Archaeologists: scientists who work as detectives to uncover the story of prehistoric people.
Artifacts: human-made objects, such as tools and jewelry.
Anthropologists: scientists who study people`s unique way of life.
Paleontologists: scientists who study fossils (evidence of early life preserved in rocks).
The archaeologist Mary Leaky found prehistoric footprints in Tanzania, and became called Hominids.
Hominids: Humans and other creatures that walked upright.
The oldest hominid to be found to that date was Lucy.

Types of Hominids:

Southern Ape: (4-5 million)

Homo Habilis (Man of Skills): (2.4 million).the brain was 1/2 size the modern humans.

Homo Erectus: (2 million-1.5 million)

Homo Sapiens (Wise man): (200.000 years old)

Scientists classified Homo Sapiens to two groups: Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons.
Neanderthals were called after the name of the Neander Valley (Germany).
Neanderthals developed religious beliefs and rituals, they believed in afterlife.
Cro-magnons migrated from Africa to Europe and Asia.
Learned to create fire.
Same species of modern humans.
They used language.

Characteristics of Prehistory

Scientists divide prehistory in to two eras:

Paleolithic Age: Old Stone Age that lasted from about 2.5 million to 8000 B.C, in which basic stone tools where used.
Neolithic Age: New Stone Age that lasted from 8000 B.C to 3000 B.C, people who lived in this era learned to polish stone tools, make pottery, grow crops, and raise animals.
The “Out of Africa” theory: A theory that argues that Homo Sapiens arose in Africa and migrated to other parts of the world to replace other hominid species including Homo Erectus.
According to the theory “Out of Africa” The modern human, Homo sapiens, or Cro-Magnon man, displaced older humans such as Neanderthal man.

Main Characteristics of Early people during the Paleolithic Era:

They survived by hunting and gathering plants, and they were called Nomads or foragers (people or animals who search widely for food).
Nomads used fire.
They used simple language.
They used stone tools.
The religion was called Animism: To believe that everything in the world has spirit.
Neanderthals and Cro-Magnons (People who lived in the Old Stone Age).

Main Characteristics of Early people during the Neolithic Era:

People started to domesticate animals and plants.
Domestication: to raise animals selectively.
The first domesticated animal in the history was the dog.
They used irrigation system: A network canals or ditches that link lands with water resources.
The major event of the Neolithic era was the Neolithic Revolution.
The Neolithic Revolution: It is the transition of humans from survival by hunting to settle by farming.
The Neolithic Revolution did not occur globally, meaning that people did not start planting crops all over the world at the exact same time.
Technological developments increased food production which led to an increase in population growth.
Because more food was available, people lived longer and had more children.
The increase of agricultural productivity fostered the specialization of labor, such as craftspeople, warriors, religious leaders, and government officials.
The specialization of labor encouraged the development of trade, which contributed to the rise of towns.
Two of earliest towns were Jericho (Palestine) and Catal Huyuk (Turkey).
People during the Neolithic Period worshiped the goddess of vegetation.