Early Humans
What type of society moved from place to place in search of food rather than living permanently in one location?
Hunter/gather society
Paleolithic society
What major change allowed many early humans to begin living in permanent settlements?
Farming/agriculture
What geographic feature was especially important to the development of many early civilizations?
Rivers/river valleys
What is one characteristic commonly associated with a civilization?
Cities, government, social classes, job specialization, writing, organized religion, etc.
What do historians call evidence that comes directly from the time period being studied?
A primary source
Most evidence suggests that the earliest humans appeared on which continent?
Africa
Give one major change that resulted from the Neolithic Revolution.
Any one of: permanent settlements, population growth, food surplus, job specialization, new technology, etc.
Name one early civilization that developed near a major river.
Egypt, Mesopotamia, India, or China
Why did job specialization become possible as civilizations developed?
Food surpluses meant not everyone had to farm.
A historian studies an ancient tool discovered by archaeologists. Is the tool a primary or secondary source?
Primary source
What was one major advantage early humans gained from learning to use fire?
It provided heat, protection, and allowed them to cook food.
A group begins producing more food than it needs to survive. What is this extra food called?
A surplus
Why was water from rivers important to early farmers?
It provided water for crops and helped support agriculture.
A society has farmers, soldiers, priests, craftspeople, and government officials. What characteristic of civilization does this demonstrate?
Job specialization
What type of evidence can archaeologists use to learn about societies that existed before written records?
Artifacts/material remains
Archaeologists discover stone tools and animal bones at an ancient campsite. What can these artifacts help historians understand?
How early humans lived and survived.
Why did farming encourage people to establish permanent settlements?
Farmers needed to remain near their fields and crops.
A group of farmers wants to settle somewhere with fertile soil, reliable water, and good conditions for growing crops. What geographic location would likely attract them?
A river valley
Why would a large city need an organized government?
To make laws, organize people, maintain order, manage resources, and solve problems.
The Leakeys' discoveries in eastern Africa provided evidence about what?
Early human existence and development in Africa.
Why were food-gathering societies generally small?
They depended on limited, naturally available food and had to move when resources became scarce.
Difficult for large groups due to limited food
Explain how the Neolithic Revolution eventually contributed to the development of civilizations.
Farming created reliable food supplies and surpluses, which allowed populations to grow, people to specialize in different jobs, and permanent settlements/cities and governments to develop.
What technology did early farmers develop to bring water from rivers to their crops during dry periods?
Irrigation systems.
Name three characteristics of civilization and explain why each was important.
Why can't historians simply "look up" everything about prehistoric societies?
Written records did not exist for much of prehistory, so historians must rely on archaeological evidence and other clues.