Road to Civlization - Review Sheet Flashcards
Describe the hunter-gatherer and Neolithic revolution
Establishing one location to live in separated early human groups from later small tribes and civilizations because it allowed for a more developed community. Humans likely discovered reliable areas after subconsciously planting seeds from human feces.
What are the leading theories on how homo sapiens spread through the planet?
Homo Erectus spread from Africa all over the world and died out. A separate species names Homo Sapiens spread from Africa all over the world. The two species did not co-exist.
Describe the significance of Australopithecus Sediba in regards to hominid evolution.
Australopithecus Sediba was a cross between a chimpanzee like creature and a hominid. The sophistication and similarity to modern day humans shows that homing evolution crossed between the two groups.
Define history, anthropology, historian
History is the study of knowledge that deals with the past.
Anthropology is the study of human culture.
A historian is someone who studies they was humans existed in the past.
Define chronology, world history (theory of world history)
Chronology/Periodization is how historians break up the past. It is based on the most important events to the people who are deciding the periodization.
World History attempts to explain the history of human beings by displaying their interconnectivity. Local dynamics (LD) + cross cultural process (CCP) = macro change (MC).
How do scientists believe that humans first learned to farm?
Farming most likely happened subconciously when human feces was dropped containing plant seeds. When the connection was realized, humans consciously planted seeds, crops in areas they knew the plants would be successful in. When humans found animals that could be domesticated it started the foundation for their civlizations.
What is Pastoralism?
Pastoralism is the branch of agriculture that deals with raising livestock. It first originated when people realized the relationship between plants and animals and that the whole animal can be used for multiple purposes. Humans learned to keep animals alive and use there myriad products they offer.
Why can surplus lead to specialization?
Surplus of labor leads to specialization. Surplus of money leads to division of organization.
Define culture and artifacts
Culture is the ways of living built by a group of people that are transmitted from one generation from the next.
Artifacts are objects made by human beings (pottery weapons, jewelry)
What is the domestication criteria?
a) Herbivores (easily find food for them)
b) Not Agressive
c) Lifespan
d) Easily produces offspring and is not shy about public sex - have no biological spot for mating
e) Temperament - doesn’t panic easily, follow the leader
Define/describe homo habilis, homo erectus, homo sapien
Homo sapien - modern day human
homo Erectus - stands on two legs and possibly speaks
homo habilis - uses stone tools
Evolution is linear, there were species before hominids.
What is slash and burn farming?
Slash and burn farming is when farmers slashed the bark off the trees then let those trees die and then burned the trees down. This created fertile land.
