Early Humans - Rise of Humans

Early Humans - Rise of Humans

by Michael Saunches

​Analyzing Fossils and Artifacts

• Archaeologists use technology to study artifacts. Technology is the practical application of knowledge.

• Culture is the attitudes, beliefs, and traditions shared by a large group of people. Archaeologists attempt to find culture in pre-historic groups by looking at artifacts such as sculpture and pottery.

• ​Archaeologists study the technology and culture of ancient civilizations.​

​Why Does it Matter?

• New archaeology developed in the 1960s based on careful analysis.

• ​The remains of a culture provide clues about how people lived.

• ​Artifacts are often all that is available to archaeologists.

• ​Archaeologists carefully study and record information about artifacts in order to better understand ancient people and civilizations.

• ​Most ancient societies did not have written records.

Multiple Choice

An archaeologist who was interested in the culture of an ancient civilization might look for which one of these items?

• written rules and laws

• sculpture and pottery

• human and or animal fossils

• weapons and tools

Multiple Choice

Archaeologists refer to a civilization's practical application of knowledge--including the development of new systems--as that civilization's

• agriculture

• culture

• technology

• sociology

Hominins​

• The lifespan of the hominins extends from 5.8 million years ago to the present.

• ​Hominins include a significant number of distinct species.

• Africa is the only continent in which every hominin lived, and the Homo genus is the only hominin group to not live exclusively in Africa​

• ​Each subsequent hominin increased in height and brain size and intellectual capabilities.

• ​Over time, hominins began walking on two feet instead of climbing.

​Why Does it Matter?

• ​Exploring hominins helps us understand more about modern humans.

• ​The discovery of Homo erectus solidified the theory that Africa is the birthplace of humanity.

Multiple Choice

In what part of the world has most of the evidence about the existence of early hominins been discovered? G.1

• Asia

• Africa

• Europe

• Australia

Multiple Choice

How did Homo Erectus differ from Australopithecus?

• Homo Erectus lived mainly in forests while Australopithecus mainly lived in savannahs

• Homo Erectus could use its hands to carry while Australopithecus could not grasp with its hands

• Homo Erectus could use its hands to carry while Australopithecus could not grasp with its hands

• Homo Erectus had advanced technological skills while Australopithecus had limited technological abilities

Habitat and Environment​

• Hominins survived changes in their environment by being adaptable.

• ​Hominins had to cope with intense weather shifts that lasted for years. These conditions affected where they lived.

• Hominins were constantly ​migrating in search of food and water, so they would've avoided areas that lacked in those resources.

• ​Later hominins learned to make tools, find shelter, and control fire. These developments helped them to survive harsh environments and move to new locations.

​Why Does it Matter?

• Hominins had to adapt to the environment.

• ​Their ability to adapt enabled them to survive and evolve.

• ​Hominins spread out across the globe in search of habitable lands with plenty of natural resources.

Multiple Choice

 

In which part of Africa would early humans have avoided living?

• The jungle

• The coastline

• The rainforest

• The desert

Multiple Choice

Which statement describes a difference between the first humans living in Africa and later humans who migrated from Asia to North America? (H.1)

• They relied on sharpened stick for hunting

• The humans in Africa would have been more likely to live in permanent settlements

• The humans living in Africa would have used animal bones to make needles and fish hooks

• The humans migrating from Asia to North America would have had more sophisticated tools than those in Africa

Multiple Choice

The improvement of tools used by early humans demonstrated that they (H.2)

• constantly faced new challenges

• had a large vocabulary of spoken words

• possessed sophisticated problem-solving skills

• established permanent settlements as soon as they could

Multiple Choice

Which factor was most important to the survival of Early Humans? G.2

• The absence of other Hominins

• Little or no change in temperature

• reliable supplies of food and water

• access to materials for making tools