Chapter 2: The Earliest Human Societies pp.46-73
Lesson 1: “Hunters and Gatherers” pp.51-55
Key Terms & People:
1. hunter-gatherer
2. nomad
3. migration
4. technology
5. religion
I Early Humans’ Way of Life
A. Hunter-gatherers adapt to environment
1. Lived in small bands
2. Group size determined by number they could feed & protect
3. Nomadic life
a. Some groups returned to same places regularly
b. At times bands may have joined for occasions
B. Early humans migrated
1. May have followed animals (hunting)
2. By 15,000 B.C. h-g were all over the world
a. Some had crossed Bering Strait land bridge
i. To North and South America
3. Migration  sharing of tools & knowledge
4. Migration  culture clash &/or violence
II. The Development of Tools
A. Humans made and controlled fire ~500,000 years ago
1. Heat, light, cook food, protection, & tool-making
B. Technology
1. Early stone tools  more complex wood and metal tools
2. New tools  more control over environment
III. Early Human Culture
A. Language came from a need to communicate
1. People may have needed to cooperate
a. Strategize to get the most/best food
B. Religion
1. Early humans may have had a belief in nature spirits
2. Cave paintings may have honored spirits
C. Art
1. Shows daily life and beliefs
2. Cave art, figurines, jewelry, etc…
a. Over 200 sites of cave art in Spain and France
b. Prehistoric art on 6 continents
c. Art may have had religious meaning
3. Music, dance, and stories (oral history/traditions)