PART I: Prehistory and Early Human Development

Bipedalism

Walking upright freed hands for tool use

Brain development

Increased cognitive abilities and problem-solving

Social cooperation

Collaborative skills for hunting and survival

Symbolic thinking

Language development and abstract thought

Advanced tool-making

Creating specialized tools for different tasks

Adaptability

Ability to survive in diverse environments

Why Homo sapiens became the "last hominin standing"

- Superior communication skills through complex language

- Ability to develop symbolic culture (art, ritual, storytelling)

- Enhanced cooperation strategies and social networks

human migration

Gradual migration from Africa to all continents

human migration timeline

Asia → Europe → Australia → Americas

human migration: environmental adaptation

Successfully adapted to diverse climates and terrains

human migration key developments

Domestication of dogs, hunting/gathering strategies, interconnected human networks

The Neolithic Revolution

The transition from nomadic hunter-gatherer societies to sedentary agricultural communities

Key Regions of Agricultural Development

- Fertile Crescent (Middle East): Rich, flood-irrigated soil

- China: Rice and millet cultivation

- Mesoamerica: Corn, beans, and squash

- New Guinea: Banana and taro cultivation

Driving forces behind the neolithic revolution

- Climate change and environmental pressures

- Population growth and resource scarcity

- Accidental seed cultivation and observation

- Need for more reliable food sources

positive consequences of neolithic revolution

- Food surpluses and population growth

- Permanent settlements and villages

- Specialized labor and tool development

- Animal domestication

- Expanded trade networks

challenges of neolithic revolution

- Increased social stratification and inequality

- More susceptible to disease

- Harder physical labor

- Dependence on specific crops