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Lesson 1 the First People

The document discusses the Stone Age, focusing on the Paleolithic Era, where early humans developed tools like choppers, hand axes, and spears to aid in hunting and gathering. It highlights the social structure of hunter-gatherer societies, the roles of men, women, and children, and the significance of language and art in early cultures. The evolution of tools and communication facilitated the formation of societies with distinct cultures and practices.

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12 views

Lesson 1 the First People

The document discusses the Stone Age, focusing on the Paleolithic Era, where early humans developed tools like choppers, hand axes, and spears to aid in hunting and gathering. It highlights the social structure of hunter-gatherer societies, the roles of men, women, and children, and the significance of language and art in early cultures. The evolution of tools and communication facilitated the formation of societies with distinct cultures and practices.

Uploaded by

6fss9thr6y
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Module 2: The Stone Ages and Early Cultures

Lesson 1 : The First People


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The first humans and their ancestors lived during
a long period of time called the Stone Age.
Archaeologists divide the Stone Age into three
periods based on the kinds of tools used at the time.

The first part of the Stone Age is called the


Paleolithic Era or Old Stone Age. It lasted until about
10,000 years ago. During this time, people used
stone tools.

• The first tools were known as choppers.


Choppers were useful for extracting meat
and bones from large animals. They were
mostly used to process food. The sharp edge
could be used to cut or chop bones and meat
• Scientists have found the oldest tools in
Tanzania, a country in East Africa.
• Over time, people learned to make better tools.
For example, they developed the hand ax.
It was made of a mineral called flint.

Flint is easy to shape, and tools made from it can


be very sharp. People used hand axes to break tree
branches, to dig, and to cut out wood and plants.

• Later, people learned how to shape the mineral


flint into knives.
These were very sharp and could be used to
cut animals skin.
• Paleolithic people also learned to attach wooden handles to
tools. By attaching a wooden stick to a pointed stone,
they invented the spear.

Because a spear could be thrown, hunters had no longer need


to stand close to the animals they were hunting.
As a result, people could hunt larger animals.
Among these animals were the deer, horses, bison, and
elephants.

As early humans developed tools and new hunting techniques,


they formed societies. These societies developed cultures with
languages, religions, and art.
Early humans lived in small groups. In bad weather they might
have taken shelter in a cave if there was one nearby.
When food or water became hard to find, people had to move to
new areas.
The early humans of the Stone Age were
hunter-gatherers; people who hunt Each person in a hunter-gatherer society had roles
animals and gather wild plants, seeds, to help meet the needs of the community.
fruits, and nuts to survive.
- Most Stone Age hunters were men. They hunted
in groups; sometimes they chased a group of
animals over cliffs. This method was both more
productive and safer than hunting alone.

- Women in hunter-gatherer societies probably


took the responsibility of collecting plants to eat.
They likely stayed near camps and took care of
children.

- Children helped their communities as well. They


made noise to encourage animals, birds, or fish to
move into nets or limited spaces so they could be
captured.
Language and Art
The most important development of early Stone Age
culture was language. Scientists have many theories about
why language first developed. Some think it was to make
hunting in groups easier. Others think it developed as a
way for people to form relationships. Still others think
language made it easier for people to resolve issues like
how to distribute food.

Language wasn’t the only way early people


expressed themselves.
They also created art. People carved figures out of
materials like stone, ivory, and bone. They painted
and carved images of people and animals on cave
walls. Scientists still aren’t sure why people made
art. They think that perhaps the cave paintings were
used to teach people how to hunt.

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