Lecture 1.1
AP World History
Key Concept 1.1
Big Geography and the
Peopling of the Earth
I. Archeological evidence indicates that
during the Paleolithic era, hunting-foraging
bands of humans gradually migrated from
their origin in East Africa to Eurasia,
Australia and the Americas, adapting their
technology and cultures to new climate
regions.
Paleolithic Age
• “Old Stone Age”
• Foragers
Enrichment Activity
– Hunter- gatherer society
• Nomadic
• Slow population growth
• Survival techniques
– Lived in large enough tribes to defend themselves
– Housing and clothing
• Cave paintings at Lascaux
• Belief in the afterlife
Key Concept 1.1
Big Geography and the
Peopling of the Earth
I. A. Humans used fire in new ways: to aid
hunting and foraging, to protect against
predators and to adapt to cold
environments.
Use of Fire
• There is a debate about whether we
migrated out of Africa with fire or whether
it developed in Europe due to colder
climates
• Cooked foods are easier to digest
– We developed larger brains
• Created social interaction as we began to
eat around the fire
Evidence of fire
• Charred wood and bones in caves
– Suggests more permanent dwellings
• Organized hearths
• Mostly found in Europe
Key Concept 1.1
Big Geography and the
Peopling of the Earth
I. B. Humans developed a wider range of
tools specially adapted to different
environments from tropics to tundra.
Ancient Tools
• Tools varied from location to location due
to available resources
– You won’t find tools made out of reindeer
antlers in Africa
• Most tools were stone at first, but we
began using bones towards the end of the
Paleolithic Age
Key Concept 1.1
Big Geography and the
Peopling of the Earth
I. C. Religion was most likely animistic.
Animistic Religions
•
•
•
•
Worshiped nature based gods
Polytheistic
Varied by region
Most had an Earth mother diety
Key Concept 1.1
Big Geography and the
Peopling of the Earth
I. D. Economic structures focused on small
kinship groups of hunting-foraging bands
that could make what they needed to
survive. However, not all groups were selfsufficient; they exchanged people, ideas
and goods.
Economic Structure
• Basic needs were met through hunting
and gathering
• Some exchange did take place, but it was
limited and there was no set exchange
system in place.
Resources
• http://worldhistoryforusall.sdsu.edu/eras/er
a2.php
• http://www.pnas.org/content/108/13/5209.f
ull
• http://history-world.org/stone_age.htm