Arc 200: exam 2 short answer

Pleistocene

Period from 2.6 million to 11,700 years ago.

Holocene

Period from 11,700 years ago to present.

Ice Ages

Cold periods with extensive glacial coverage.

Interglacial Periods

Warmer periods between ice ages.

Glaciers

Masses of ice that shape landscapes.

Mammoths

Large mammals thriving in cold climates.

Saber-toothed Cats

Predators adapted to Pleistocene environments.

Moraines

Accumulations of debris from glaciers.

Fjords

Narrow inlets formed by glacial activity.

Broad Spectrum Adaptations

Exploiting diverse food sources for survival.

Generalist Diet

Diet including various plant and animal species.

Ecological Flexibility

Ability to adapt to changing environments.

Resource Diversification

Utilizing multiple resources for food security.

Clovis People

North American hunter-gatherers known for megafauna hunting.

Post-Glacial Adaptation

Adjustments to warmer climates after ice ages.

Mesolithic Peoples

Cultures adapting to forested landscapes in Europe.

Archaic Peoples

North American groups focusing on smaller game.

Oasis Theory

Agriculture emerged near water sources post-Ice Age.

Hilly Flanks Hypothesis

Agriculture began in Fertile Crescent's hilly areas.

Population Pressure Theory

Growing populations necessitated intensive food production.

Social Complexity Theory

Agriculture developed due to social and political needs.

Surplus Food

Excess production supporting larger populations.

Social Organization

Complex structures arising from agricultural stability.

Labor-Intensive

Agriculture requiring significant human effort.

Environmental Degradation

Negative impacts from agricultural expansion.

Sedentism

Living in permanent settlements due to agriculture.

Social Stratification

Emergence of hierarchies in agricultural societies.

Gender Roles

Defined tasks based on gender in agriculture.

Eastern Woodlands

Cultures practicing horticulture and trade.

Ancestral Puebloans

Southwest culture with adobe dwellings and trade.

Plains Indians

Great Plains cultures focusing on bison hunting.

Chinook

West Coast groups reliant on fishing and trade.