Origins of Civilizations - Unit 1

What place did Homo sapiens migrate 20,000-60,000 years ago?

Asia

What place did Homo sapiens migrate 15,000 years ago?

The Americas

When archaeologists study an excavation site, what did they notice about the objects found closer to the surface?

The objects in the top layer are not as old as the objects in the deeper layers.

Which fossil discovery was found in Olduvai Gorge in East Africa?

Homo habilis or the “handy man”

How might the use of fire have affected human migration?

Humans can live in colder places that would not be possible to live in without fire.

What is the significance of the knife in the photograph?

Complex, prehistoric people were developing new tools to survive

If the “out of Africa” theory of human migration is correct, what would be the age of the Homo sapien fossil remains found nearest to Africa be?

The fossil closest to Africa would be older than the fossils found further from Africa.

Why are archaeologists interested in the cave paintings found in Lascaux in southern France?

It tells us that humans were capable of complex thinking.

What was the economy of early villages and cities mainly based on?

Farming

What did the Niles, Euphrates, Indus, and Huang river have in common?

They all were the beginning of new civilizations.

Why do archaeologists believe that Neanderthals were the first hominins to bury their dead?

Flowers and artifacts were found near Neanderthal fossils/skeletons

Why did the earliest civilizations appear in areas like Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley?

Because of the rivers and fertile soil

What type of information can scientists learn from the photograph of a skeleton and objects near it?

Age of the skeleton, and the types of tools used by early humans

What two things show that the people were changing their environments?

Clearing trees and bushes + domesticating animals for food

Give two examples of how early civilizations affected the surrounding environment?

Build irrigation system (man-made rivers to farming area) + clear the bushes and trees

Give two examples of factors that were MOST responsible for villages developing into cities?

Food surplus and population growth

Must name at least 3 points- think who, what, where, why, how & when: Mary Leakey

Mary Leakey was a British paleontologist who found the first fossilized Proconsul skull. She was born in 1913 and died in 1996. She lives in East Africa and discovered the dig site Olduvai Gorge, which had many fossils.

Must name at least 3 points- think who, what, where, why, how & when: “Lucy”

Lucy is an Australopithecus that was found in Ethiopia, Africa in 1974. Scientists believe that Lucy was alive approximately 3.2 million years ago.

Must name at least 3 points- think who, what, where, why, how & when: “Homo sapiens”

Homo sapiens started appearing on Earth 300,000 years ago in Africa. Homo sapiens survived because of their advanced brains and a communication system. They were light, muscular, and walked on 2 legs.

Must name at least 3 points- think who, what, where, why, how & when: “Hunter-gatherers”

Hunter-gatherers are people who survive by hunting wild animals, fishing, or searching for wild plants. Hunter-gatherers started appearing on Earth around 2 million years ago in Africa. They lived in small groups of 10-12 people.

How do scientists date fossils and artifacts? What type of scientist conducts this work?

Scientists used radioactive dating, DNA testing, and what layer of Earth the fossil or artifact was found from. Archaeologists conduct this work.

What are some things that make up a person’s environment? How do humans adapt after moving to new environments?

Part 1. Physical things like climate, geography, and resources like water and vegetation.

Part 2. Find out which plants to eat, animals to hunt, and how to use resources effectively.

How was the growth of agriculture an important factor in the development of specialized jobs?

Farming caused food surplus, so people could focus on doing other activities of interest instead of farming.

How was spoken language an important skill for Homo sapiens?

Protect each other, pass information onto generations and generations, and also teach kids how to do things.

How did domestication of plants and animals contribute to permanent settlements?

They could stay in one place, and they could use cotton and wool for clothes, which can be useful for different clothing styles. Animals provided food, clothing, helped in farming, and transportation.