Key Aspects of Prehistory and Ancient Egypt

Understanding Early Human History

Hominid Species

• Homo sapiens sapiens
• Homo neanderthalensis
• Homo erectus
• Australopithecus

The Paleolithic and Neolithic Periods

Paleolithic: The primary period of prehistory, also known as the Old Stone Age. Characterized by nomadic hunter-gatherer societies.

Neolithic: Follows the Paleolithic period. Marked by the beginning of food production (agriculture and livestock) and sedentary settlements.

Concern for the Afterlife

(Information about the reason for concern is missing from the original text.)

Prehistoric Painting

Cantabrian Painting: Naturalistic paintings, such as those found in Altamira.

Mediterranean Painting: Schematic group paintings.

Early Life and Egyptian Concepts

Houses

Simple private structures constructed with reeds, mud, and soft materials.

Costumes

Very simple. Children wore knots, while women were covered with a linen cloth and men wore a cloth tied at the waist.

Egyptian Terms

• Ka: The soul that formed the human body according to the Egyptians.
• Pyramid: Burial structure utilizing overlapping mastabas.
• Hypogeum: Large burial chambers excavated underground and decorated with great luxury.
• Mummy: An embalmed body wrapped in bandages, preserved for burial.

Early Settlements

Settlements were encircled by walls and included farmland with irrigation canals.

What are Megaliths?

Monuments constructed with large stone slabs.

Development of Textiles

Discovery of how to develop textiles. Natural fibers such as wool and flax were turned into long threads. These threads were then worked into fabric using a loom.

When did Agriculture and Livestock Begin?

Approximately 10,000 years ago, during the Neolithic period.

Egyptian Beliefs

Why did Egyptians wear Charms?

They believed in magic and were very superstitious.

What is Polytheism?

The belief in many gods.

History of Metallurgy

Metallurgy originated in the Near East around the 5th millennium BC. The first known metal was copper, but it was very soft.

Around 3000 BC, bronze was discovered. It was a harder metal that could substitute stone tools.

In the second millennium BC, iron was discovered. It was excellent for weapons and tools.

Inventions and Advances Facilitating Trade

The production of new goods stimulated trade. Early navigation techniques and the invention of the wheel were also crucial.

Egyptian Writing

Egyptians used hieroglyphic writing, often written on papyrus or carved into stone. A cartouche was an oval enclosure used to surround the name of a pharaoh.