whap midterm

What is Australopithecus afarensis?

One of the oldest hominids with ape-like features.

When did Australopithecus afarensis live??

Approximately 3.9 to 2.9 million years ago

Who is Lucy?

A famous fossil of an adult female Australopithecus afarensis.

How old is Lucy’s fossil?

About 3.2 million years old.

How old was Lucy when she died?

Likely 11 to 12 years old.

Where was Lucy found?

In Ethiopia.

What significant evidence did Lucy provide?

She showed that Australopithecus afarensis walked upright

What part of Lucy’s skeleton indicated bipedalism?

The position of her pelvis.

What are the advantages of bipedalism?

Hands free for tasks

• Ability to reach higher objects

  • Better visibility over tall grass

What are the disadvantages of bipedalism?

Harder childbirth

• Challenges with balance

  • Increased pressure on the spine

What is Homo erectus?

The first recognizable member of the Homo genus.

When did Homo erectus live?

Approximately 2 million to 108,000 years ago.

What does the name "Homo erectus" mean

Upright man.

What was Homo erectus the first to do?

The first to leave Africa and migrate to Eurasia.

Could Homo erectus speak?

Yes, they had the capability to speak.

What tools and skills did Homo erectus have?

They had stone tools, used fire, and practiced cooking.

What dietary change contributed to brain expansion in Homo erectus?

Cooking calorie-dense meat, which made it safer to eat and reduced reliance on fruit and nuts.

How did dietary changes affect Homo erectus' anatomy?

Eating softer, cooked foods allowed for smaller jaws, making more room for brain expansion.

Who were the Neanderthals?

Neanderthals (Homo neanderthalensis) were the closest relatives of Homo sapiens.

When did Homo sapiens and Neanderthals share a common ancestor?

500,000 to 750,000 years ago.

What percentage of DNA do modern humans share with Neanderthals?

Modern humans share 1–2% of their DNA with Neanderthals.

When did Neanderthals live?

Neanderthals lived from about 500,000 to 40,000 years ago.

Where did Neanderthals evolve and live?

Neanderthals evolved in Eurasia.

When and why did Neanderthals disappear?

They disappeared about 40,000 years ago as Homo sapiens expanded into Eurasia.

Where does the name "Neanderthal" come from?

Neanderthals were discovered in a valley named after poet Joachim Neander.

How did Neanderthals demonstrate abstract thought?

They could think about non-material concepts like time and the future.

Why were Neanderthals historically portrayed as "stupid" or "brutish"?

This stereotype came from racist texts that compared their elongated skulls to African and Aboriginal peoples.

What human-like behaviors did Neanderthals exhibit?

They buried their dead, made jewelry, tools, paint, ceramics, and had regional cuisines.

What aesthetic or ceremonial practices might Neanderthals have had?

They possibly picked feathers for aesthetic or ceremonial purposes.

Did Neanderthals and Homo sapiens interbreed?

Yes, they lived at the same time and mated, sharing DNA.

Why were Neanderthal populations already dwindling before Homo sapiens expanded?

They were affected by unstable Eurasian climates.

Why is it hard to know more about Neanderthals?

Carbon dating loses accuracy around 40,000 years ago, limiting evidence.

When did Homo sapiens first appear?

Approximately 200,000 years ago and they continue to exist today.

What distinguishes Homo sapiens anatomically?

They have large brains and are fully bipedal.

What extreme adaptation is unique to Homo sapiens?

They are the first species to inhabit extreme climates on Earth.

When did Homo sapiens take over the world?

Around 10,000 years ago.

What activities did early Homo sapiens engage in?

They created cave art, made tools, hunted, and gathered food.

What lifestyle characterized early Homo sapiens?

They were very nomadic and had little impact on the world for the first ~190,000 years.

What unique ability do Homo sapiens have related to communication?

They have the anatomical structure necessary to speak and form words.

What is the Paleolithic Era also known as?

The Old Stone Age.

What characterizes the Paleolithic Era?

It is defined by the early use of stone tools.

When did the Paleolithic Era occur?

Approximately 2.5 million to 10,000 years ago.

What was the social structure of Paleolithic camps?

Nomadic camps of 20–50 people, often led by a matriarch or patriarch.

What was the societal organization in the Paleolithic Era?

An equal society without a class system, but there was still significant warfare.

What was the average life expectancy during the Paleolithic Era?

40–50 years if you survived past age 5; otherwise, the average was about 30 years.

Did Paleolithic people have religion?

They had ceremonies and rituals but no centralized religion.

How were Paleolithic people intelligent but not knowledgeable?

They created art, had many languages, and developed tools, but lacked advanced understanding of the world.

What types of tools and clothing did Paleolithic people make?

Stone tools, bows, arrows, leather and fur clothing, and bark-cloth.

What type of lifestyle did Paleolithic people have?

They were hunter-gatherers.

How did Paleolithic people interact with the environment?

They spread across the world, adapting to extreme climates, but had little impact on the environment.

What characterizes the Neolithic Era?

The Neolithic Era is defined by the "Neolithic Revolution," when farming and domestication were discovered.

How did people live during the Neolithic Era?

They began settling in towns of 2,000–5,000 people, often near water sources for agriculture.

What impact did farming have on Neolithic populations?

Farming increased population and population density, but overall health decreased due to poor sewage systems (e.g., cholera) and disease spread.

What animals were domesticated during the Neolithic Era?

Cattle, sheep, and other animals were domesticated for food.

What were the staple crops of the Neolithic Era?

Wheat (Europe)

• Corn (Americas)

  • Rice (Asia)
    These crops were high in calories but not nutrient-dense.

What major societal changes occurred during the Neolithic Era?

Social divisions and classes formed, and town leaders were no longer relatives but instead at the top of a formal hierarchy.

Why did formal governments form during the Neolithic Era?

Governments were needed to resolve disputes and manage organized societies.

What was religion like during the Neolithic Era?

Religion became more centralized and focused on agricultural deities.

What inventions emerged during the Neolithic Era?

Weaving

• Pottery (for storing goods)

• The wheel

  • Plows

Why wasn’t pottery needed in earlier times?

In the Paleolithic Era, there was no need to store surplus goods, as people were nomadic.

How did Neolithic towns sustain themselves?

Towns were largely self-sufficient, relying on farming, fishing, and hunting, with little trading.

Did nomads still exist during the Neolithic Era?

Yes, but they were less numerous as settled farming communities became more common.

What characterizes early civilizations?

Cities became dominant, and humans had a more significant impact on their environments.

How many people lived in cities during early civilizations?

Cities ranged from 200,000 to 500,000 people.

Did nomadic and small-scale farming lifestyles still exist in early civilizations?

Yes, some people remained nomadic (Paleolithic) or practiced small-scale farming (Neolithic).

What new social structures emerged in early civilizations?

Many social divisions and classes

• Slavery became common

How was Rome's society structured compared to Egypt's?

Rome: Patriarchal, military-focused dictatorship/empire

• Egypt: Gender equality and a focus on restorative justice

What was "Roman Peace"?

The Roman Golden Age, a period of stability and prosperity in the Roman Empire.

What was the role of religion in early civilizations?

Centralized, very powerful religions

• Formal priests and giant temples

  • Religion became a source of political power (e.g., Divine Right).

When was writing developed, and what was it used for?

Writing emerged about 5,000 years ago, used to keep records, create art, and build architecture.

How did Egyptians and Romans approach art?

Both developed very realistic and detailed art styles.

What engineering achievements came from early civilizations?

Roads, canals, aqueducts, arches, pyramids, and other significant structures.

What role did farming and trade play in early civilizations?

Farming was still important, but trade expanded

• Mediterranean became a major trading network

Where did most people live in early civilizations?

Near shores or in river valleys, although some civilizations started in deserts due to the need for cooperation.

What enabled travel and trade in early civilizations?

The use of boats and improved transportation networks.

When did the Metallic Ages occur?

From approximately 3500 BCE to 1000 CE.

: In what order did the Metallic Ages progress?

Copper, Bronze, Iron.

Why did the order of the Metallic Ages progress as it did?

Each successive metal required a higher temperature to work with and was stronger.

What is the Copper Age?

A period when tools and weapons were made primarily from copper.

What is bronze made of?

A mixture of copper and tin.

What is the Iron Age?

A period when tools and weapons were made primarily from iron, which is stronger than bronze.

How does iron differ from steel?

Iron is a pure metal, while steel is an interstitial alloy made of iron and carbon.

What is the core belief of Confucianism?

Know your place and respect others; every person and every level has a role in society.

How does Confucianism view relationships?

Unequal relationships are considered normal and natural.

What is the main principle of Legalism?

Follow the law through a strict system of rewards and punishments.

What does Daoism emphasize?

Understanding yourself and nature, focusing on the natural order and inner rewards rather than societal concerns.

What is ancestor worship in Chinese tradition?

The belief that ancestors’ souls live on as spirits and can influence the world, so they must be respected.

What is the Hindu Trinity?

Shiva (the Destroyer), Vishnu (the Preserver), Brahma (the Creator).

How does Hinduism combine mono and polytheism?

Hinduism has hundreds of thousands of gods, with the Trinity being the major three, but they are all different forms of Brahman (the universal truth).

What is the Bhagavad Gita?

A Hindu epic poem that is a religious text, where Krishna (a reincarnation of Vishnu) teaches Arjuna about spirituality, aimed at normal people.

Who famously quoted the Bhagavad Gita?

Robert Oppenheimer, when witnessing the testing of the atomic bomb.

What is reincarnation in Hinduism?

The endless cycle of life and death until enlightenment is attained, which is the understanding of Brahman.

What is Moksha?

Liberation from reincarnation due to an understanding of Brahman, which is essentially Hindu nirvana.

Who was Siddhartha Gautama?

A prince who sought a solution to suffering by joining ascetics, ultimately developing the philosophy of "The Middle Path."

Where did Buddhism spread?

Buddhism spread across South and East Asia but eventually merged with Hinduism in India.

What are the Four Noble Truths?

1. Discontent is prevalent in human life.

2. The mind causes suffering.

3. Mental training leads to understanding.

   1. Understanding leads to cessation of suffering and the attainment of nirvana.

What is depicted in Buddha's iconography?

Images often show long ears, a bun on the head, simple clothing, a lotus, meditating, and sometimes a bindi.

What does the bindi on Buddha’s iconography represent?

The third eye, symbolizing the perception of the spiritual world beyond illusions.

What does the bun on Buddha’s head symbolize?

Enlightenment

Why does Buddha have long ears in iconography?

To symbolize his prior use of heavy jewelry.