1.1 The first humans

• Geschiedenis
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 1

1. The Age of Hunters and Farmers

1.1 The first humans

Rules

1. Raise your hand if you have a question.
2. When others speak, we listen (don't interrupt others).
3. Bring all the necessities too class (device, workbook, etc.) and the homework is done

What is this lesson about?

Some people believe that a god or gods created the first humans. Scientists say that it took millions of years before people evolved into what we are now. 

Archeologists and paleontologists have found bones of the first humans in Africa. 

Modern humans are called Homo Sapiens and they didn’t stay in Africa. Instead, they spread all over the world.

Which Age are we studying in this Unit?

Word Duty

1.1 First humans

Fossils: remains of plants or animals that are preserved in stone

Scientist: someone who studies a science, for instance history, physics or biology

Creation narrative: a story that says God created man and the rest of the world

Theory of evolution: theory written by Charles Darwin to explain the way species change

Excavation: process by which you uncover something through digging away the earth that covers it

Paleontologist: someone who studies ancient life on the planet

Archeologist: someone who digs up remains to investigate human activity in the past

Tool: an object held in one hand to accomplish a task (for example: an axe)

Out of Africa theory: theory that modern man evolved in Africa and then migrated to 

other areas in the world

KEY WORDS

Lucy

• In 1974, scientists found Lucy near Hadar, Ethiopia.
• The scientists were looking for fossils. Fossils are the remains of plants or animals that are preserved in stone.
• They found part of a skeleton that was 3.2 million years old.
• At first, the skeleton looked like a small female chimpanzee.
• But the bones showed that Lucy could walk on two legs.

<div><div>The female human skeleton that was found was named Lucy. She got this name from the song 'Lucy in the sky with diamonds'. This song was played during the discovery and was a popular song by The Beatles in the seventies.</div><div><br></div></div>

<div><div>The bones of Lucy that were found in Ethiopia (c. 3.2 million years old).</div><div><br></div></div>

<div><div>&nbsp;This is probably how Lucy looked, when she was still alive. Why was this one of the most important discoveries in the history of mankind? (present-day drawing).</div><div><br></div></div>

<div><div>A skull of a Australopithecus afarensis, like Lucy was (c. 3.2 million years old).</div><div><br></div></div>

Lucy

• Why did Lucy walk on two legs?
• Her bones give us important clues.
• Lucy lived in high grasslands with few trees.
• Walking on two legs helped her see over the grass.
• She could look out for predators and find prey.

<div><div>The female human skeleton that was found was named Lucy. She got this name from the song 'Lucy in the sky with diamonds'. This song was played during the discovery and was a popular song by The Beatles in the seventies.</div><div><br></div></div>

<div><div>The bones of Lucy that were found in Ethiopia (c. 3.2 million years old).</div><div><br></div></div>

<div><div>&nbsp;This is probably how Lucy looked, when she was still alive. Why was this one of the most important discoveries in the history of mankind? (present-day drawing).</div><div><br></div></div>

<div><div>A skull of a Australopithecus afarensis, like Lucy was (c. 3.2 million years old).</div><div><br></div></div>

Where do humans come from?

Creation narrative = ?

• People believed god created the world > Adam and Eve

• Religious explanation of our existence 

But also > scientific explanation 

First humans in Africa? Different look? How did they change?

<div><div>Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden by Wenzel Peter, 19th century, Vatican Museum</div><div><br></div></div>

Theory of evolution

Charles Darwin asked himself this around 1850. 

Traveled the world and discovered that species change > Have to adapt to their environment in order to survive. 

Darwin’s idea is called the theory of evolution. 

<div><div>Charles Darwin, 1809 - 1882</div><div><br></div></div>

<div><div>This is the human family tree, with the different species of early humans.</div><div><br></div></div>

<div><div>The Latin word Homo means ‘man’. When we talk about humans we use this word. For example: Homo habilis was ‘the tool using man’ and Homo erectus ‘the upright man’. We modern humans are Homo sapiens sapiens which means ‘very wise man’.</div><div><br></div></div>

Archeology and Paleontology

• Fossils and bones are important sources.
• Archeologists study remains and objects from the past to learn how people lived.
• Paleontologists study fossils to learn about ancient life.
• They can work together at excavations.
• Their discoveries help us understand early humans and evolution.

Out of Africa

• Modern humans evolved differently than apes.  > Used tools thanks to their hands. Tools are objects held in one hand to accomplish a task, like a sharp rock to cut flesh. They also learned to use fire.

• Homo Sapiens originated in Africa > They left the continent and spread all over the world. 
• Not all at once > 250,000 to 56,000 years > Out of Africa theory 

Africa > Middle East > Asia > Europe > Americas 

• Special skill to adapt > Homo sapiens superior 

<div><div>The spreading of humans across the world.</div><div><br></div></div>

The discovery of Lucy was not the only important one in Ethiopia. In 1994, a group of paleontologists discovered the remains of a 4.4 million year-old skeleton. They called it 'Ardi'. Scientists are still debating if Ardi is human or ape. Some believe that her specie is 'the missing link' between us and apes.

Read the text "Out of Africa"

Describe the Out of Africa theory in your own words.

Can you put the ten Ages in the correct order?

Jagers en Boeren

Regenten en Vorsten

Grieken en Romeinen

Monniken en Ridders

Steden en Staten

Ontdekkers en Hervormers

Pruiken en Revoluties

Burgers en Stoommachines

Wereldoorlogen

Televisie en Computers

In the next task you need to drag the 

Dutch names to the top boxes and the 

English names to the bottom boxes.

De Tijd van:

The Age of:

Ken je de namen van de eerste vier tijdvakken....

ook in het Engels?

Monniken &

Staten

Steden &

Romeinen

Jagers &

Ridders 

Grieken &

Boeren 

Greeks &

Farmers

Hunters &

Knights

Cities &

States

Monks &

Romans