History: Prehistory/Ancient

Question 1

Paleolithic (Old Stone Age)

Answer 1

Period of time from 2.5 million years ago to 10,000 years ago, where human-like species (particularly Homo Habilis) began using stones as tools. Stones classified as rigid, and mostly used for hunting.

Question 2

Neolithic (New Stone Age)

Answer 2

Period of time from 10,000 BCE to 2,000 BCE, characterized by polished stone tools and the introduction of agriculture. This was a shift from the hunter-gatherer lifestyle in Old Stone Age.

Question 3

Paleontology

Answer 3

The scientific study of fossils and ancient life forms.

Question 4

Anthropology

Answer 4

The holistic study of human societies and culture

Question 5

Archaeology

Answer 5

Study of physical evidence of human behavior.

Question 6

Stratigraphy

Answer 6

The branch of geology that involves the study and interpretation of rock layers (strata).

Question 7

Radio Carbon Dating

Answer 7

Radiocarbon dating relies on comparing the ratio of carbon-14, a radioactive isotope, to carbon-12, a stable isotope, in organic materials. The half-life of carbon-14 is approximately 5,730 years.

Question 8

Potassium Argon Dating

Answer 8

Measures the age of rocks by analyzing the decay of radioactive potassium-40 to stable argon-40. Potassium-40 has a long half-life of about 1.3 billion years.

Question 9

Hominin

Answer 9

Hominins are members of the biological family Hominidae, which also includes great apes such as chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas, and orangutans. However, hominins are more specifically defined as those species that are more closely related to humans than to chimpanzees.

Question 10

Sahelanthropus

Answer 10

Oldest human fossil found 6-7 million years ago. Found in Chad, Africa.

Question 11

Ardipithecus (Ardi)

Answer 11

• East Africa
• Lived 4.4 million years ago

Question 12

Australopithecus (Lucy)

Answer 12

• East Africa
• Lived 3 to 4 million years ago

Question 13

Homo Habilis

Answer 13

Also known as Handy Man, this is the earliest species of the human genus; they had more complex brains and used tools. Lived 2 to 1.5 million years ago.

Question 14

Homo Erectus

Answer 14

Also known as Upright Man, this is the first species to move out of Africa (to Eurasia) and colonize the world; also first species to discover fire. Lived 2 million to 100,000 years ago.

Question 15

Neanderthals

Answer 15

• Mostly in Europe and parts of Asia
• Lived 400,000 to 40,000 years ago

Question 16

Homo Sapiens

Answer 16

Also known as Knowing Man, emerged in Africa 200,000 to 300,000 years ago. Have larger brain sizes and capable of executing more complex tasks.

Question 17

What was the last major landmass to be inhabited by modern-humans and when did it happen?

Answer 17

The Americas were the last major landmass to be inhabited by modern-humans (around 15,000 to 20,000 years ago)

Question 18

Beringia Bridge

Answer 18

Bridge connecting modern day Siberia with modern day Alaska, allowing homo sapiens to travel to North America (due to lower sea levels)

Question 19

Bering Strait

Answer 19

Space of water between US and Russia that connects the Arctic Ocean with the Bering sea.

Question 20

Vitus Bering

Answer 20

Danish-born Russian Explorer who made 2 expeditions between Russia and North America in the 18th Century (thus the naming of the Bering strait/sea)

Question 21

What is the distinction between prehistory and history?

Answer 21

The presence of writing