I.  The Prehistoric Era
    Hominid Species Timeline
II. The Paleolithic Era
     used stone tools, hunted animals, &
     gathered fruit, nuts, berries
    Hunting and Gathering
    Hunting and Gathering
III. Early Humans
   A. the hominids -- scholars believe human
       ancestors developed 3 to 4 million
       years ago
     i. Australopithecine - earliest ground
       dwelling apes
          a. discovered in S. Africa in 1924.
     ii. homo habilis (human with ability) -
         developed ca. 2 million years ago
          a.  the Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania
     iii. homo erectus (erect/upright human) -
         developed ca. 1.5 million years ago
          a. discovered in Java in 1891,
              Peking in 1927
          b. migration out of Africa and recent
              new theories
     iv. homo sapiens (knowing/intelligent
          human) - developed ca. 100,000
          years ago
          a. Neanderthal human --
              1856 in the Neander Valley,
              Germany.
          b. 85,000-35,000 years ago in the
              glacial periods.
          c. the Shanidar Cave in the Zagros
              mountains of Iraq: belief in
             afterlife and concern for the dead.
          d. extinct  approximately 35,000
              years ago:
              i. probably displaced by newer
                 species.
              ii. many may well have been
                 absorbed into newer groups.
              iii. failed to adapt to warmer
                  climates.
       v.  Cro Magnon Human:
          a. found in the Cro Magnon Cave,
              France -- 1898
          b. lived between 35,000-10,000
              years ago.
          c. art & artifacts: caves in Lascaux,
              France and Altamira, Spain
        The Cave of Lascaux
             i. indication of the importance of
                animals / hunting
             ii. animism
IV. The Neolithic Era (New Stone Age)
      10,000 B.C. - 3,000 B.C.
  A. Emergence of Agriculture
    Domestication
    made village life possible
    The Process of Domestication     
    Human Ingenuity When It Comes to Food
    Technology Change
    i. Jericho, Jarmo, & Çatal Hüyük --
        7,000 B. C. - 6,000 B. C.
    Early Agriculture and Early Cities
     ii.  Egypt -- 5,000 B. C.
     iii. China -- 3,000 B. C.
     iv. America -- 2,000 B. C.
  B. Domestication of animals
    Domestication of Animals
  C. Civilization built on agriculture
     i. stable food supply --> effects on
        population
     ii. production of pottery and other
         artifacts
     iii. permanent dwellings
     iv. division of labor: farmers, craftsmen,
          priests
     v. economic organization needed for
         irrigation
     vi. complex government
     vii. morality
     viii. religion: animism --
           worship of nature spirits/ practiced
           magic
     ix. writing -- business transactions,
          religious writings provide historical
          record
     x. art, science, music
  A Scenario For the Birth of Civilization

    Overview of Human Origins

    Hyper History Online