Prehistory

Context

Prehistory is the longest and most unknown period in human history. Since the first hominins produced stone tools until writing was stamped in clay.  The term prehistory literally means "before history" and refers to the period when written languages and records did not yet exist, but can be studied based on archaeological evidence about what happened so long ago when there are no written records left behind; however, our ancestors left behind other kinds of remains and artifacts. These periods or ages are divided into three major lifestyle and cultural evolutionary phases:

1. The Paleolithic ("Old Stone Age"), during which all hominids were hunter-gatherers;
2. The Mesolithic ("Middle Stone Age"), was the transitional phase to agricultural life; and
3. The Neolithic ("New Stone Age"), was the stage of cultural evolution or technological development among prehistoric humans.

Herodotus, a Greek historian, used the Greek word historiai (inquiry), to understand what happened in the past.  The Christianized delineations of history refer world time into two eras: (1) Before Christ (BC) and (2) Anno Domini (AD) Latin for the ‘In the Year of Our Lord’. Today, historians and scholars prefer the more generic (1) Before the Common Era (BCE) and (2) Common Era (CE) that take into account different religions have different starting points in history. For example, the Jewish tradition notes the beginning of Creation as their first year. Muslims, identify the prophet Muhammad's flight from Mecca as their first year (622 CE in the common calendar).

Watch the video: Prehistory Definition and Timeline 

Purpose

In this lecture, we will provide an overview of the major developments in the early human past. Drawing upon archaeological and anthropological sources, the lecture will explore human adaptive behavior, sedentary life, plant and animal domestication, trade, and the development of agriculture. The lecture will also examine subject matters such as the origins of gender differences in the division of labor, the role of myth and religion in cultural adaptation, ancient technologies, economic production, artistic expression, and the emergence of urban life and permanent social inequality.

Learning Outcomes

• Explain the processes used by archaeologists to understand ancient history.
• Connect patterns of ancient human settlement to the physical geography of settled regions.
• Gain a broader understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity in the human past.
• Explain how certain ancient tools and technology advanced human development.

Instructions

• Read the materials and watch the accompanying videos.

• Write a short summary of the video information; identifying three key facts and explain why they are important.

Approximately 12,000 years ago, humans lived in small groups, housed in temporary structures, and vested authority in elders. There was no writing, no pottery, no permanent shelters. The transition from bands of hunters and gatherers to farming and permanent settlements are critical events in human history that these developments brought about our world, and fundamentally underpin who we are today. The two significant products brought about the Neolithic Revolution -- farming and the Urban Revolution -- cities' development before people wrote down history. Archaeology is the only way to access, reconstruct, and interpret the past.

Watch the video: Prehistoric Archaeology