World History to 1500

Chapter One

Hominid- this is any creature of the family Hominidae or Primates and only one species exists today , Homo sapiens or human beings . The family most closely related to the family today is Pongidae or the anthropoid apes that include the gorilla , the chimpanzee , and the orangutan Believing that they all came from a common ancestral line during the Late Miocene epoch period and the characteristics that distinguish hominids from the pongids are the erect posture , bipedal locomotion rounded skulls with larger brains , small teeth and behavioral characteristics such as

communication through language . The oldest known hominid genus is Australopithecus . This type was two legged and had an opposable thumb and there was evidence that they were capable of primitive tool making . The most significant physiological differences between the hominids and the pongids are how they adapted differently for different environment and the most was anatomically . Hominids had changes in the pelvis , femur and food whereas the pongids developed physically for swinging by the arms , such as in trees

Paleolithic Era- This period is also known as the Stone Age . This is a period when humans began using rudimentary chipped stone tools . It has been divided into two levels the lower and the upper periods . At sites dating from the Lower Paleolithic Period , approx . 2 .5 million to 200 ,000 years ago simple pebble tools have been found in relationship with the remains of what may have been the earliest human ancestors . Around 700 ,000 years ago the hand ax appeared . The arrival of the Upper Paleolithic Period , which came about 40 ,000 years ago , brought about the regional stone tool industry . These industries are characterized by the greater complexity , specialization , and variety of tools types by the coming of a distinctive regional artistic tradition . The two forms of art known to the modern world are small sculptures and monumental paintings , incised designs and drawings on the walls of caves . Most of the cave drawings that survived in quantity are in Eastern Europe and parts of Spain and France

Neolithic Era- Also known as the New Stone Age and is known for the stone tools shaped by polishing or grinding . It dates back to the last 10 ,000 years of earth history . This period is known for the environmental or climatic changes the earth went through to become the earth we know today . During this period is when men became herdsmen and cultivators and the beginning to change or modify their environment Social structure became more complex in response to problems and ways of dealing with situations . Animal domestication as well as agriculture was very important features to this era . Humans lived in more stable more or less permanent , villages and were able to support complex social structures and organizations . Agriculture and animal husbandry developed independently in several regions of the Old and New Worlds through the natural process of evolution

Three Craft Industries- This has to do with the final stages of cultural and technological development in prehistoric...