Prehistory

Prehistory

1. What is prehistory?

   • The prehistory extends from our first ancestor (about 5.000 million years ago)to the invention of writting.
     • Prehistory is divided into 3 periods:
       • The Palaeolithic Age extends from our first ancestors to 11.000 years ago, they lived from hunting and gathering
       • The Neolithic Age began about 11.000 years ago. Groups of human beigns started to live in villages.
       • The Metal Ages began about 7.000 years ago. Human beings learned to use metals

2. What were early human beings like?

   • Home habilis; these appeared 2 million years ago. Their brain was bigger. Their name "habilis" that means skilful. They made stone tools and lived from hunting and gathering
   • Australopithecus; these appeared about 5 million years ago. They were very similar to chipanzees, they normally walk with 2 feets
   • Homo herectus; these appeared 1 and a half million years ago. They walk upright. This was the first species to live outside Africa.They lived Europe and Asia
   • Homo sapiens our species appeared in Africa about 130.000 years ago, they were taller than Neanderthals.
   • The first Europeans:
     • The oldest human remains in Europe appeared in Atapuerca, Spain. They are 800.000 years old and their name is Homo antecessor.
     • Neanderthlas were a different species who lived in Europe 150.000 years ago