Early Humans and the Neolithic Revolution

  • Neolithic Revolution happened over 10,000 years ago
    • Marks the period in time where humans domesticated animals and farmers
  • Homo Sapiens:
    • appeared in East Africa (20,000 BC)
    • Modern day humans
    • Thin, flexible fingers
    • More efficient tool makers
    • Advanced brains
    • Intelligent and creative
  • Homo Erectus:
    • First species to make and use fire
    • First early hominid species to move out of Africa
    • Theories that they evolved into other species in different places
  • Neanderthals:
    • Bipedal, used tools
    • Had heavy bones, so moved slowly
  • Human migration:
    • Exact reason for why homo sapiens moved out of Africa is unknown
    • Some migrated to Asia and new regions in Africa
  • Ice Age
    • All hominid species except for homo sapiens went extinct
    • Lasted for about 100,000 years
  • Hunter-Gatherers:
    • Before discovery of agriculture, early humans hunted
    • Developed tools for hunting, and got clothes from animals
    • Hunting lead to a nomadic lifestyle.
    • People followed the movements of animals
  • Rise of agriculture:
    • Domestication and farming started at the end of the ice age
    • Farmers developed independently in different parts of the world
    • Shift from nomadic to agrarian society
    • Lead to a population increase
    • Settling lead to larger families and larger communities