| A | B |
|---|
| prehistory | the period in human history before writing was developed |
| archaeology | the study of past societies through an anallysis of what people have left behind |
| artifacts | objects that archaeologists examine, such as tools, pottery, paintings, weapons, buildings, and household items |
| anthropology | the study of human life and culture |
| fossils | remains of humans, plants & animals |
| australopithecines | the earliest humanlike creatures that lived in Africa three to four million years ago |
| hominids | humans and other creatures that walk upright |
| Homo erectus | a hominid species that emerged around 1.5 million years ago and used fire and larger tools |
| Homo sapiens | "wise human being" a hominid species that emerged around 250,000 years ago and developed into two subgroups, Neanderthals and Homo sapiens sapiens |
| Neanderthals | a subgroup of Homo sapiens whose remains were first found in the Neander Valley in Germany |
| Homo sapiens sapiens | the first anatomically modern humans that appeared in Africa between 150,000 and 200,000 years ago |
| Paleolithic Age | "Old Stone Age" the early period of human history (approximately 2,500,000 to 10,000 BC when humans used simple stone tools |
| nomads | people who moved from place to place in search of food |
| Neolithic Revolution | the revolution that occurred in the Neolithic Age, the period of human history from 8,000 to 4,000 BC |
| systematic agriculture | the growing of food on a regular basis |
| domestication | the adaptation of animals for human use |
| artisans | skilled workers who made products such as weapons and jewelry |
| Bronze Age | the period of history from around 3000 to 1200 BC that was characterized by the widespread use of bronze |
| culture | the way of life of a people |
| civilization | a complex culture in which large numbers of human beings share a number of common elements |
| monarchs | kings or queens who rule a kingdom |
