PREHISTORY.pptx

A brief guide through Prehistory and the human evolution.

1. PREHISTORY Palaeolithic/Paleolithic

2. Prehistory is the longest period in the evolution of mankind. It covers from the origin of the human species until writing appeared (3.500 BC). As there are no written records the main source of information is archaeology. Humans are the result of gradual evolution from the first hominids (human-like species) to the human species. This process lasted millions of years.

3. PREHISTORY PERIODS: Prehistory is usually divided into three periods: Palaeolithic or Stone Age, Neolithic and the Age of Metals.

4. HUMAN EVOLUTION BIPEDALISM: walk on two legs and freeing the hands to use tools. OPPOSABLE THUMB: enabled humans to hold objects and make tools. INCREASE in the size of skull, brain and forehead. LANGUAGE: changes in the size of the jaw, teeth and larynx.

5. AUSTRALOPITHECUS. BIPEDALISM: walk on two legs. LOCATION: East and South Africa. APPEARED in the Rift Valley 4.5 million years ago. TOOLS: sticks and stones but did not make tools.

6. HOMO HABILIS. APPEARED in East Africa 2.3 million years ago but did not leave the continent. FIRST to make basic tools.

7. CHOPPER with a single straight or curved cutting edge and CHOPPING TOOL with a bifacial cutting edge.

8. HOMO ERECTUS. APPEARED 1.9 million years ago in East Africa and was the first human ancestor to spread to Europe and Asia. TOOLS: complex tools called bifaces. Discovery of FIRE and HUNTING in groups.

9. ATAPUERCA.

10. HOMO ANTECESSOR APPEARED 800.000 years ago at Atapuerta (Burgos). TOOLS for specific activities.

11. HOMO NEANDERTHALENSIS.

12. HOMO NEANDERTHALENSIS. APPEARED 300,000 years ago only in Europe. They LIVED during the Ice Age. Complex TOOLS made of flint (silex). First BURIALS.

13. HOMO SAPIENS.

14. HOMO SAPIENS APPEARED in East Africa 200,000 years ago and expanded into Asia, Europe, Oceania and America. Sophisticated TOOLS made of stone, bone and antler. First works of ART.

15. PALAEOLITHIC ART