Pre-history


Pre-history began before anyone can document. As far back as is researched isn't even technically documented but scientists are able to figure out about time back then looking at historical facts. Two million years ago is when Homo Habilis existed. These were very important species to our time because they invented the first tools. They were nicknamed "Handy Man" because they invented them. Homo Habilis started the beginning of man made things and without their discoveries we could possibly not live in the same society as we do today. Their inventions started species on creating new things and taking different actions to advance themselves and make their lives easier. By making these tools, it made tasks more convenient and lives easier.
500,000 years later another species came to exist on our planet. They originally spread from Africa. Homo Erectus took what Homo Habilis began and took it to the next level. They took the unifacial tools that Homo Habilis invented and advanced them to bi-facial tools. This advancement made them another important contribution to our history. Also, they domesticated fire, started the clothing making process, and began cooperative hunting with possible language. Not only did they advance things using their minds but they also changed physically. Homo erectus was bigger than normal humans.
Homo Sapiens are the next in line on moving closer to the human species. They were otherwise known as the "Wise Men." Like Homo habilis they were given this nickname for a reason. Homo Sapiens had very large brains and were physically modern humans. It shows here that species are beginning to form into humans and take on human characteristics.
Neanderthals existed 200,000 to 30,000 years ago. This species was very much similar to us today. They made advanced tools, and became more like humans in their minds. Neanderthals buried their dead and began to have somewhat of a conscience. This made us similar to them. Also, to go along with that they cared for their sick. This species also was definitley language capable.
Cro Magnon existed 40,000 years ago and were also out of Africa. The cro magnon species were already advanced but then they went further and invented art and jewelry. This is how they expressed their ideas. This was the first species to do so.




Women vs. Men
Big argument in history

Who did more work? This argument has been fought often in the course of history. Men and women both worked hard but who worked harder? Men are usually handed most of the credit for taking care of their families and their needs but women actually did more in this aspect of like then the men. As everyone hears men of course did the hunting but this didn't provide for their family as much as you would think. Women cooked for the family eighty percent of the time. This only leaves ten percent of the time for men to provide the meals. Also, men didn't stay home and clean the house, take care of the children etc. This was left up to the women. This argument still occurs today. Constantly, this argument is brought up and fought over because the issues are the same and people think one side does more than the other. This is a big aspect of pre-history.

Prehistory to Now

Pre-history and now are very comparable. Previously stated, the argument between women and men, who did more, is still fought about today. Also, without the pre-historic species we wouldn't have the advances in society that we have today. They discovered and invented many things millions of years ago until now. Those inventions and discoveries are what helped us to become what we are today. We could possibly be way further behind than we are now if pre-historic people didn't help to advance us.

*Cave Paintings*

The location of Lascaux Caves:

The Caves are in southwestern France in the Lascaux woods.

The Life of a Cave Painter...

Imagine. You are at the entrance of dark cave and all you have with you is your four year old son. The only light you have is a single candle made of animal fat and this is supposed to guide you the entire way. You now have to endure crawling for an unknown amount of hours to draw pictures on the wall of a cave. This isn't just for fun though. You believe this has a purpose and will help you to catch the animals you need to feed you family and other things similar. You work hard on these paintings and they have beome part of your life.

This here is what it must have been like for ancient cave painters to go through. The work they went through to do these paintings was tremendous. To us this may seem ridiculous but to them it was very important and they did a lot to get these painted.

Why were they painted??

These cave paintings were a very big deal to ancient people. They belived in them and spent a lot of time making sure they were drawn. There are a couple reasons of why they may have drawn these pictures. The people believed that if they drew a certain animal that this would help them to catch it when they were hunting. Once that idea was planted in their heads of course this became important to them. Also they may have been drawing what they see not only for help in hunting but to better understand their surroundings. Families could have drawn things for luck, and to help them along in troubled spots. If they thought these things then obviously painting these pictures would be important and it would show us why it was very common to go through difficult things just to draw a picture. These weren't just pictures to them though. These drawings were wonders.

The Feeling of Being a Cave Artist...

It would be difficult to be a cave aritist. This is apparent. Even today, for better reasons then they had, people to not put themselves through what these cave painters did. They worked hard and were very determined. These people weren't slackers and pushed themselves. Cave painters must have saw this as a way of life. If something is that important, as it is to them, obviously people would be willing to work hard. The difference though, is cave painters worked very hard. These peopl must have also been very brave and possibly could have thought of this as their duty. Being a cave artist must have been grueling work, but to them, it was worth it.

Lascaux Images

The wall paintings from the Lascaux caves show bison, wild horses and many other animals that they used to hunt. Prehistoric people made the painting over 16000 years ago. The image was of what they prehistric people hunted.

We lost the paragraph of Lascaux Images and Artist techniques used. We did it but it did not save.

Pre History Blog Assignment

Pre History Blog Assignment

Key differences between Humans and other Species

There are some key differences between humans and other species. For example, language and abstract thought. These two differences set the human species apart from other species. Not only do these things make us different but they also have helped in the process of advancing society to the way it is today. Language sets us apart by being able to speak to one another, such as helping people out, doing different things and such more.

Lucy

In 1974, an American anthropologist named Donald Johanson discovered a complete skeleton of an adult female hominid. They nicknamed her "Lucy," after the Beatles song "Lucy in the sky with diamonds." This skeleton lived around 3.5 million years ago and it was the oldest hominid found to date.

Homo Habilis

The homo habilis existed 2.5 million years ago. The homo habilis means "man of skill". Scientists jokingly called them "handy man". Researchers found tools made of lava rock which they believed homo habilis used these tools to cut meat and crack open bones.

Homo Erectus

About 1.6 million years ago, another species of Hominids appeared in East Africa known as Homo Erectus, or "Up Right Man." Some people believed Homo erectus was more intelligent then Homo habilis. They applied their knowledge to make tools and inventions to meet their needs. They became skillful hunters and were the first to migrate away from Africa. Some anthropologists believed they were the first to use fire and might have developed the beginnings of the spoken language. They may have even named objects, places, animals, and plants.

Homo Sapiens

Homo sapiens exsited over 300,000 years ago. Many scientist believed Homo sapiens were developed from Homo erectus, another name for modern humans. Homo sapiens means "wise men." Homo sapiens have larger brains then Homo erectus.

Neanderthals

Neanderthals existed 200,000 to 300,000 years ago. These people were very powerful. They had heavy slanted brows, well developed muscles and thick bones. Some might describe them as a club carrying cave man. They developed religious beliefs and performed rituals. They were very resourceful. They survived harsh winters by living in caves and made stone blades and tools to cut up their prey for food to survive on.

Cro-Magnons

Cro-magnons emerged about 40,000 years ago. Cro-magnons are identical to modern humans. They studied animals, habits , stalked their prey and planned their hunts. This helped them to survive more easily then Neanderthals.