How Early People Lived

1. How Early People Lived Objective: To learn how early cultures grew out of people’s work together, and how people met their everyday needs through hunting and gathering.

2. The Earth And Early People • In earliest times, the Earth had long cold periods called Ice Ages. • During the periods, great sheets of ice called glaciers covered much of the Earth. • It was during these cold periods that people started to live in small groups.

3. A Story Of The Old Stone Age • The first stage of human life is known as the Old Stone Age – “Paleolithic Era” 4 million to about 8,000 years ago • People formed groups of family members who traveled around in search of food. • Nomads - groups of people who travel around in search of food • Nomads had no permanent homes or villages

4. Hunting And Gathering • Old Stone Age people followed their food around because it provided much more than that including clothing and shelter • They hunted with weapons made of sticks and stones • These early people knew that they could not depend on a good hunt, and learned how to gather fruits, nuts and roots also

5. The Beginning Of Culture • Even the earliest cultures were based upon people’s need to provide for their basic needs • Cultures are also based upon individual languages and religious beliefs • The development of language allowed people to share ideas about religion, values, customs and skills.

6. The Beginning Of Culture • The religious beliefs of Old Stone Age people were tied to their environment and important parts of their daily lives like hunting and gathering • Early man may have been inspired by these beliefs to draw animals on the inside of their cave shelters. • Early man formed groups of family members, created common languages, and shared common beliefs…the beginning of culture.