Prehistory
Thematic Inquiry Into Geography/Economy/Technology
Geography, Economy, Technology, Thematic Research (G.E.T.T.R.)
Essential Question:
“How do geography and technology affect the nature of human civilization?”
Topical Question:
“How have various societies and civilizations made use of, and have been affected by, climate, geography,
and technology, in order to develop an effective civilization?”
Question, Simplified:
“How have humans adapted to the land and climate to survive and thrive?”
Secondary Source: Our World textbook, pages 31, 32, 33, 35, 39, 40, 41.
Civilization or Name of Region Climate and Land Names of Plants
Society
Features
and Animals
Consumed
Prehistory
Great Rift
Ancient lakebeds, Huge herds of
Valley,
dry climates, and animals were
Tanzania
high plains
hunted and
consumed.
Prehistory
Blombos Cave, Warm climate
Huge herds of
South Africa
animals were
hunted and
consumed
Industry/Technology/Skills
(Tools? Shelter? Clothing?)
Very sharp hand axes were found in the
Great Rift Valley, along with, what
historians think used to be the remains of
a 2 million year old human.
Ancient bone carved tools, such as
animal bone blades, which had leather
strips on them and decorated with ocher,
a yellowish powder
Prehistory
Border Cave,
South Africa
Hot climate
Early people
hunted the eland
near Border Cave
Discoveries have been made showing
how the early humans used their
resources. They used them by covering
the hard floor with grass to sleep on and
making campfires for cooking and for a
light source.
Possible Traits:
Resourcefulness
Observant, knowledgeable, intelligent
Deep feelings
Creativity
Coordinated
Artistic
Religious
Secondary Source: “People Like Us,” National Geographic, July 2000
Civilization or
Society
Name of Region
Climate and
Land
Features
Prehistory
Blombos Cave,
South Africa
Cave, sea
(water), and
warm
climate.
Names of
Plants and
Animals
Consumed
They speared
fish in the sea
Industry/Technology/Skills
(Tools? Shelter? Clothing?)
Early people used ocher symbols on
their tools on their bodies for
decorations
Prehistory
Vogelherd Cave,
Germany
One of the
land features
was a cave.
In Vogelherd An ivory horse, an ivory mammoth,
Cave, they
and a Bone Flute were found in
relied on only Vogelherd Cave in Germany.
one animal
mentioned; a
mammoth.
Prehistory
Geissenklosterle,
Germany
I’m not
exactly sure.
Prehistory
La Gravette, France In La
Gravette,
France, the
Neanderthals
survived in
Conte cliffs.
In
Geissenkloste
rle, they
relied on only
one animal
mentioned; a
mammoth.
In La
Gravette,
France the
Neanderthals
did not hunt
much or at
least it wasn’t
mentioned at
all.
In Geissenklosterle, Germany
scientists discovered an ivory horse, an
ivory mammoth and a bone flute
found in Vogelherd Cave, Germany.
The shelter of the Neanderthals was a
cave. The tools they used were wood to
make fires so they could stay warm
and for lighting purposes. The skills
Neanderthals did have were not very
good talents, one of which included
building a fire. Not that they were bad
skills, but they could have had more
helpful skills.
Prehistory
Czech Republic,
towns of Dolni
Vestonice and
Pavlov
Czech
Republic had
a cold climate
because it
says they had
glaciers
approaching.
It doesn’t
mention any
animals or
plants
consumed.
One item found in the Czech Republic
was a woman made out of clay found
in Dolni Vestonice. The tools they used
were Venus Figures which was
described as a fertility symbols.
Specialists think that their true
meanings were lost to us.
Prehistory
Mezhirich,
Ukraine
Mezhirich,
Ukraine was a
very cold
climate because
it said they had
to use the
Woolly
Mammoth fur
for warmth.
An animal
they
consumed
was the
Woolly
Mammoth
for food and
warmth.
Some things they used as tools
included a jawbone used as an
outer wall. They would haul the
mammoth bones from a nearby
“graveyard” and then use it for
base support of their house. Their
shelters were homes made out of
mammoth parts, including hides
(fur) and wool for warmth.
Secondary Source: The Real Eve video
Gulf of Zulu,
Eritrea (east
coast of Africa)
Kota Tampan,
Sumatra