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Early Hominids
Paleolithic and Neolithic Age
Hominids
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Hominid – human ancestor
Bipedal – using only two legs for walking
Kingdom Phylum class order family genus species
Animalia Chordata Mammalia Primates Hominidae
Australopithecus Afarensis
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Australopithecus Afarensis
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Means Southern Ape
Began in Africa
The earliest
Human Ancestor
Lived 3-4 million
years ago
Biped
Australopithecus Afarensis
Description
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3 Feet Tall
Long arms
Hands and Feet similar to
humans
Pronounced jaw and
forehead
Used hands to defend
themselves
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Homo Habilis
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Means Handy Man
Lived in Africa
1.5 – 2 million years ago
Lived in groups
4 feet 2 inches
Made Tools:
Bones for digging
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Homo Erectus
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Means Upright Man
1.8 Million –
200,000 B.C.E.
Evidence in Africa,
Asia, and Europe
Used/moved fire
Used stone tools axes
Lived in basic huts
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Homo Sapiens Neanderthalensis
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Means Wise New
Man
Lived in Europe
Over 5 feet tall
Created organized
groups
Took care of the sick
Created spears for
hunting
Homo Sapiens Sapiens
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Means Doubly Wise Man
35,000 B.C.E. until today
Homo Sapiens are
everywhere
Evidence of clothing
Complex tools and art
Early life –
finding food
protecting family
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Early Tools
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Early Art
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Hunter-gatherers become
farmers
Paleolithic Age
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First tools appeared (bone and stone)
About 2 million bce to 8000 bce
Hunter-gatherer groups of 20 to 60
Nomads - wander from place to place with no
permanent settlements
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Neolithic Age
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Pre-history – The Time before writing
Agriculture – farming and domestication of animals
About 8000 B.C.E. to 3000 B.C.E.
People began to settle in one place
The Agricultural
Revolution
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Stable Lifestyle
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Avoid hunting dangers
Discovery and spread of
seeds = growing plants
Domestication –
training animals to be
useful for humans
What do humans need to
do to support farming?
Permanent Dwelling
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Stable life allowed
permanent homes
Houses had rooms for
specific purposes
How do you think living in
one place changed human
interaction?
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Communties Grow
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Villages of up to 200
people
Food security meant
population growth
Safety in numbers
With so many people we do
not need everyone to farm.
What should they do?
Roles in Community
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Job specialization –
individuals work in one area
Workers are more skilled
Develops better:
pottery, clothing,
homes, decorations
jewelry
What should the group do
with the extra suppllies?
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Trade Increases
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Desire for a better
quality of life
Humans seek resources
from elsewhere
Ideas and knowledge
spread
How can early humans
continure to make their
lives better?
Ancient Civilizations Begin
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Humans build cities
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