Earliest Human History- Chapter 1

For 95 percent of human existence, human beings survived by being hunter-gatherers. Berries, nuts, food, grain, scavenging bodies of dead animals and food of dead animals were the sources of survival. Stone was used in the paleolithic age, rather than iron tools. 12 thousand years ago began the deliberate cultivation of plants and animals. Of course, in the paleolithic era there was no organized writing system. So it is tough to know. Changes and development of agriculture was entirely a learned or cultural development. Homo sapiens emerged first in grasslands of eastern and southern africa. Humans began inhabiting deserts and forests at that time. Some 100 to 60 thousand years ago, humans began the trek to Eurasia and Australia, making the impossible feat of getting used to any environment, only with stone tools and hunting and gathering. Ice age lowered water levels, allowing the formation of land bridges. Migrations to east Asia began at this time. In Eastern parts of Europe figurines were made, and baskets, bone needles as well as pottery. 60 thousand years ago also massive migrations took place to Australia. Songs, dances and rituals developed as part of dreamtime rituals among first humans in Australia. Between 30 thousand and 15 thousand years ago, massive migrations took place to North America and to South America. Clovis culture of hunting mammoth developed in North America. 3500 years ago last great migrations took place in the Pacific, as humans crossed from island to island on boats and canoes. Pacific island migrations took place with livestock and domesticated plants. Paleolithic people created plenty of distinct societies, each with their own cultures. Paleolithic societies were far more egalitarian. Women were primary food gatherers, while the men tended to be the hunters. Violence between men and women, and with men and other men was also more prominent in this paleolithic society. Paleolithic people had a low life expectancy, but they had free time. And they lacked modern understanding of religion. But they did have part-time Shamans to communicate with the spirits using some drugs. Gobekli Tepe, a village in Anatolia in Turkey, shows how paleolithic people lived part-time in villages. Neolithic period took place with the agricultural revolution, as human beings began to grow certain plants and domesticate certain elements. Agricultural revolution however coincided with the last ice age. Ice age drove into extinction many animals paleolithic peoples have relied on. Digging stick or hoe played a key role in human society in early agriculture. Wheat, rice, barley, corn and sorghum supplied much of human life. Cereal grains of the Fertile Crescent were among the first to be grown. Agricultural societies develped the form of governance with a chieftain, who with gifts, blessings, religious ceremonies and charisma would organize society.