1 Outcome: Human Migration & Beginning of AgricultureThe Earliest Humans Outcome: Human Migration & Beginning of Agriculture

2 Constructive Response QuestionsDescribe what early humans were like and why they migrated out of Africa? Trace the development of the Agricultural Revolution as well as its causes and effects.

3 What are we going to learn?Introduction to history Important evidence found in Africa Human Migrations The Agricultural Revolution

4 Think-Pair-Share Write your thoughts in the marginHow do we study history if we have no written records in which to read or interpret? Write your thoughts in the margin Share your thoughts with an elbow partner nearby Be prepared to share to whole group

5 Human Migration & Beginning of Agriculture Setting the Stage: Who are we? Evidence suggests humans could be much older than originally thought Scientists use artifacts to search for answers Artifact: human made objects like tools and jewelry Unfortunately, prehistory can leave more questions than answers Prehistory: time before the invention of writing

6 Human Migration & Beginning of AgricultureImportant: The story is not complete and there are many questions left to answer Two prevailing ideas (you will not be forced to pick a side): Creation: Idea that a higher power put humans on earth Evolution: Theory that humans evolved from another being

7 Human Migration & Beginning of AgricultureInteresting Evidence Found in Africa Anthropologists (people who study culture) and paleontologists (people who study fossils) attempt to use artifacts and fossils to understand early human’s culture Culture: a people’s unique way of life

8 Lucy

9 Human Migration & Beginning of AgricultureLucy Unusually complete skeleton of female hominid Hominid: being that walks upright on two legs Discovered by Donald Johanson in 1974 in Africa Named after Beatles song “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” Dated to be 3.5 million years old

10 Laetoli Footprints

11 Human Migration & Beginning of AgricultureLaetoli Footprints Two hominid footprints preserved in volcanic ash in Africa Found by anthropologist Mary Leaky in 1978 Dated to be 3.6 million years old

12 Human Migration & Beginning of AgricultureNeither Lucy nor the Laetoli footprints were made by actual humans Other beings such as Cro-Magnons, homo erectus, & Neanderthals walked the earth before we did No link to these beings has been made; “missing link”

13 Migration out of Africa

14 Human Migration & Beginning of AgricultureHumans Migrate Humans are known as homo sapiens which means “wise men” due to brain size Eventually homo erectus & homo sapiens migrated out of Africa Early humans were nomads or highly mobile people who move from place to place foraging, or searching for new sources of food All early humans were also hunter-gatherers Hunter-gatherers: those whose food supply depended on hunting animals and collecting plant foods Estimates show they started leaving Africa around 125,000 years ago

15 Human Migration & Beginning of AgricultureSettled in Europe 33,000 years ago, China 67,000 years ago, Australia 38,000 years ago, North America 12,000 years ago, and South America ,000 years ago We know this due to similar stone tool artifacts found in different regions that date to roughly the same time period Shows that early humans used technology: applying knowledge, tools, and inventions to meet their needs

16 Human Migration & Beginning of AgricultureWhy did they leave Africa? Competition with other humans Following animal herds Human curiosity

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18 Human Migration & Beginning of AgricultureAgriculture Changes Everything! Early nomadic humans lived in bands of people Around 10,000 years ago, the Neolithic Revolution began: the beginning of farming It started accidentally when some women scattered seeds near a campsite and noticed crops growing there when they came back next season Rising temperatures worldwide provided longer growing seasons Farming produces more food than hunting or gathering

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20 Human Migration & Beginning of AgricultureMore food means a higher population, thus more labor Due to labor and farming methods, permanent settlements developed Permanent settlements turn into villages, villages turn into cities, cities turn into civilizations Once you reach a certain population, you can begin specialization Specialization: the development of skills in a specific kind of work (other than farming)

21 Human Migration & Beginning of AgricultureSlash & burn farming was used (cut a field and burn it for nutrients) Domestication or taming of animals began as well

22 Coming Up Next…! Eventually all of this led to the creation of the first civilization on Earth in Mesopotamia called Sumer

23 Constructive Response QuestionsDescribe what early humans were like and why they migrated out of Africa? Trace the development of the Agricultural Revolution as well as its causes and effects.