AP World History 2012-2013
  • Unit 1
    • 1.1.3: Tools and Adaptation>
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 1.3.9 & 1.3.2: New Religions & Geographies of Early Civs.>
      • Early Religions>
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
        • Works Cited
      • The Early Civilizations>
        • Case Study
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
        • Works Cited
    • 1.1.2: Humans and Fire>
      • 1.1.4: Economic Structures>
        • Case Study
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 1.3.6: Arts & Record Keeping>
      • Arts and Artisanship
      • Systems of Recordkeeping
      • Case Study: The Phoenician Alphabet
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 1.3.1-1.3.3: Early Culture & Systems of Rule>
      • Culture's Effects
      • Systems of Rule
      • Case Study: Hammurabi's Code
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 1.1-1.4 Early Human Innovation>
      • 1.1.1: Human Patterns of Migration>
        • Case Study
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 1.2.1-1.2.3: The Climate & The Neolithic Era>
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 1.2.5-1.2.6: Reliable Food Sources & Innovation>
      • Case Study - The Plow
      • Works Cited
    • 1.3.1-1.3.2: Pastoralists & Early Architecture>
      • Introduction
      • Monumental Architecture And Urban Planning
      • Pastoralist Weapon Dissemination And Transportation
      • Pastoralist Tools
      • Basic
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
      • Works Cited
  • Unit 2
    • 2.2.5-2.2.7 Social Hierarchy and Gender Roles>
      • Gender Roles>
        • Case Study
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
      • Social Hierarchies >
        • AGMSPRITE
    • 2.2.4 Cities>
      • Trade>
        • Trade AGMSPRITE
        • Trade Case Study
      • Religious Rituals>
        • Religious Rituals AGMSPRITE
        • Religious Rituals Case Study
      • Public Administration>
        • Public Administration AGMSPRITE
        • Public Administration Case Study
    • 2.2.2 Orchestration of the Persian and S. Asian Empires>
      • Persia>
        • Imperial Administration and Legal Systems
        • Military Power
        • Trade and Economic Integration and Regulation
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
      • South Asia>
        • Imperial Administration and Legal Systems
        • Military Power
        • Trade and Economic Integration and Regulation
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 2.2.2 Orchestration of Rome and China>
      • China>
        • Imperial Administration
        • Military Power
        • Trade and Economics
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
      • Rome>
        • Imperial Administration
        • Military Power
        • Trade and Economics
        • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 2.2.1: Growth of Empires & States>
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • 2.1.6 Cultures Of Second Wave Civilizations>
      • Sculptures
      • Architecture
      • Literature
      • A.G.M.S.P.R.I.T.E
      • Sources
    • 2.1.1: Religions as a Bonding Force>
      • The Basic Gist
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
      • Case Study
    • 2.1.4 Buddhism and Hinduism Impact on Gender Roles>
      • Buddhism
    • 2.1.2 The Emergence of Religions>
      • Christianity
      • Confucianism
      • Greco-Roman Philosophy
      • Daoism
      • AGMSPRITE
  • Unit 3
    • 3.1.1 Third Wave Global Trade Routes>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 3.1.2 The Impact of trade on emerging trading cities>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 3.1.3. Spread of Islam Through Afro-Eurasia>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • 3.1.4 Inter-Regional Travelers >
      • The Basic Gist
      • Compare and Contrast
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 3.1.5. Cultural Interactions and Art>
      • The Basic Gist
      • Cultural Traditions AGMSPRITE
      • Art AGMSPRITE
      • Literature AGMSPRITE
      • Case Study
    • 3.1.6: The Impact of Newly Spread Technologies and Scientific Knowledge>
      • Basic Gist
      • Movement of Gunpowder from East to West
      • Movement of Printing from East to West
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 3.1.7 Inter-Regional Conflicts>
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
  • Unit 4
    • 4.1.1. - Influence of Tools Upon Transoceanic Trade>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • 4.1.2: Maritime Reconnaissance>
      • Basic Gist
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 4.1.3 World Economies>
      • Basic Gist
      • AGMSPRITE analysis
      • Case Study
    • 4.1.4 The Colossal Impact of the Colombian Exchange>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study on Sugar
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis of the East
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis of the West
    • 4.1.5 Government and the Arts>
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • 4.2.3 Forced Migration of Africans Cause and Effect>
      • Basic Gist
      • Causes of the forced migration of Africans
      • Effects/Developments of the forced migration of Africans
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 4.3.2 Impact of Technology on state consolidation and imperial expansion>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
  • Unit 5
    • 5.3.1 US and Latin American Revolutions >
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • 5.3.2b Hatian Revolution>
      • Basic Gist
      • AGMSPRITE
    • 5.3.2a: Causes and Effects of French Revolution>
      • Causes of the French Revolution
      • Effects of the French Revolution
      • AGMSPRITE
    • 5.3.2c Causes and Effects of the Mexican Revolution>
      • Basic Gist
      • Causes of the Mexican Revolution
      • Effects of the Mexican Revolution
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 5.3.3: The Winds of Change>
      • Case Study
      • The Conception of Nation-States
      • Nationalism on the Rise
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 5.3.4 Nationalism and Democracy >
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
      • 5.3.5 Enlightenment and European Despots>
        • Basic Gist
  • Unit 6
    • War and Peace in a Global Context>
      • Big Gist>
        • WWI vs WWII
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • Changing Economics>
      • Basic Gist
      • AGMSPRITE
      • Case Study
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • Demographic and Environmental Changes>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE Analysis
    • 20th Century Globalization>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • Effects of Revolutions on Women>
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE
    • New Patterns of Nationalism >
      • Basic Gist
      • Independence of Vietnam Case Study
      • Effects of Communism Case Study
      • Chinese and Russian Revolutions
      • AGMSPRITE
    • Globalization of Science, technology and culture. >
      • Basic Gist
      • Case Study
      • AGMSPRITE

Tools Throughout Early Human History

Tilly Behrmann

       The word 'tool' holds a variety of connotations in today's language; the ever-popular insult; the beloved alternative metal band, among other meanings.  However, the traditional denotation of the word, and perhaps the most widely recognized, refers to an instrument of innovation, an instrument that can be used to accomplish a task and reach a desirable outcome faster and easier.  In this section, the wide variety of tools utilized by the early peoples of the Paleolithic and Neolithic Eras will be discussed, along with the ways these tools assisted in the adaptation to an ever-changing environment. 

Picture
Early humans used hammer stones in order to access new foods and make new tools. Despite their inefficiency and simplicity, the hammer stone were the base of more advanced tools to come.
The earliest tools date back to the beginning of the Paleolithic Era, approximately 2.6 million years ago.  These original pieces of human innovation were incredibly basic: hammer stones (blunt rocks, used for both the manufacturing of other stone instruments, as well as grinding) and stone cores (stone tools used to access meat on animals).  The leftover "flakes" from the production of stone cores could be used to cut tissues and other tough materials.  Eventually, the perfection of these flakes led to the creation of a simple hand-axe, approximately 1.76 million years ago, which was later perfected, between 400,000 and 200,000 years ago.
         In addition to stone, early tools were made from bones as well.  Often times, these technologies were used to fish and hunt, demonstrating an undeniable dependence upon the environment. 
         Despite the obviously simple tools of the Paleolithic people, migration to other parts of the world was nevertheless achieved (as seen by the appearance of tools dating back to between 250,000 and 200,000 years ago across various continents).  In Europe and western Asia, darts, arrows, and other pointed projectile tools were found.  People were quickly learning to live in a variety of climates and environmental conditions.  As humans migrated into warmer climates, they developed such technologies as throwing-spears, and even the bow and arrow, in order to hunt larger animals.  The humans living in Europe adapted to the climate in even more advanced ways, with the creation of complex weaving, bone needles, and pottery.  In modern day Japan, the Jomon demonstrated an ability to utilize their water ways by developing perhaps the world's first wooden canoes and paddles, along with wooden pottery, bows, bowls, and handles for tools.  This worldwide phenomenon of technological innovation was spurred by the emergence of different environments - and the need to adapt to them - as well as a notably increasing population, and diverse social interactions and exchanges by neighboring peoples.  For instance, the principle of miniaturization (micro-blades, tools with smaller points, refined weapons) occurred during this time period, demonstrating the worldwide movement from the Paleolithic Era to the Neolithic Era.
         As humans began to take part in the more sedentary lifestyle of the Neolithic Era, the reliance upon hunting tools decreased, and the need for farming tools increased.  Food surpluses, initiated by the adoption of the agrarian lifestyle, allowed humans increased capabilities for innovation.  Although people continued to use flint, the appearance of composite tools, like spears, became less and less common.  Instead, agricultural tools (the scythe, etc.) became the standard and were made out of flint.  Notable innovative leaps, such as the wheel and the sail were invented during the Neolithic Era, demonstrating mankind's increasing control of his environment.  More and more complex and sustainable materials (i.e. granite) were being introduced.  However, perhaps one of the most influential contributions of the Neolithic Era was bronze; thus, not only was the world thrust into the Bronze Age, but a new age of growth, social relations, and economic standards. 
   


Picture
An early canoe, thought to have been invented by the Jomon. The canoe revolutionized the ability to find food and further interact with the environment.
Picture
A Bronze Age dagger. The invention of metal pushed the world into a new age. Through the foundation of metal, early peoples could construct advanced technology.
Picture
Shown above is a stone flake, or sharp shards of stone cut from larger pieces of stone. Stone flakes could be used to cut meat and sinew, allowing early humans to better utilize the environment.






Works Cited

Armstrong, Monty, David Daniel, Abby Kanarek, and Alexandra Freer. "Technology: Metal Workers Deserve Medals." Cracking the AP World History Exam                 2013. New York: Random House, 2012. 93-94. Print.

"Bronze Dagger." Bronze Dagger. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2012. <http://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/claremuseum/riches_of_clare/earth/bronze_dagger1.htm>.

"Early Human Marine Exploration of North America and Their Vessels - Page 2 - Boat Design Forums." Early Human Marine Exploration of North America                 and Their Vessels - Page 2 - Boat Design Forums. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2012. <http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/all-things-boats-and-boating                    /early-human-marine-exploration-north-america-their-vessels-36475-2.html>."Early Man." Google Images. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2012.                                 <http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1>.

"Early Stone Age Tools." Human Evolution by The Smithsonian Institution's Human Origins Program. The Smithsonian Institution, n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2012.                 <http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/behavior/tools/early-tools>.

"Kanzi The Chimp Cutting Flake." Kanzi The Chimp Cutting Flake. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Oct. 2012. <http://lithiccastinglab.com/gallery-                                                    pages/kanzitripleflakelarge.htm>.

Strayer, Robert W. "First Peoples." Ways of the World: A Brief Global History with Sources. Boston and New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2011. 11-33. Print.



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