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Aug 31: First Peoples

The universe, which was the result of an explosion that released numerous other small dots is big and we are just one small speck. Inside this speck, a lot has happen. From microscopic organisms to extinction then to the creation of bigger organism like dinosaurs to another extinction, but unlike the first one that was some scientist believe was caused by drastic climate change and volcanic eruption, this one was caused by the impact of an asteroid that wiped everything off face of the planet. Some believe we are in the midst of a sixth extinction event, but this time by our own actions. We are the smartest species on the planet, one who unlike chimpanzees, who will master the same skill as their ancestors did million years ago we have an amazing capacity for accumulating knowledge and skill, which have resulted us from moving away from spears to nuclear weapons and also affecting the planet’s atmosphere and climate with our industrial capacity. This sounds familiar and resembles the conditions that triggered earlier extinction events. But the history of our species have occupied roughly the last 250,000. Reminding us that we are just a small little speck in this never ending universe.
Before we knew anything of agricultural and and cattle raising, we humans only wanted to hunt to survive. The Hazda people are one the very last people on earth today to still continue this way of life, which was universal among humankind until 10,000 to 12,00 years ago. This way of life sustained humankind for more than 95 percent of the time we inhabited the earth. This part of history is often not mention in courses and textbooks.
Around 200,00 to 250,000 years ago in Eastern and Southern Africa, homo sapiens emerged, inhabiting forest and deserts. As the moved, they made use of new technologies and resources around them. From Handaxes to tools made from bones, they were constantly upgrading their inventory. It wasn’t long until they started hunting and fishing. Then sometime between 100,00 and 60,000 years ago, these human being being leaving Africa and going into to places like Eurasia, Australia and the Americas.

Out of Africa:
Human being came to Europe some 45,000 years. The result of cold Ice Age climates caused these European people to move southward to more warmer region, where they developed new technologies like spear throwing, bows and arrows. It was here where they begin to leave records of them like cave painting. But Human beings arrived to Australia way before that. Around 60,000 years ago, they arrived to Australia in boats where they developed different cultures, developed more than than 250 languages and became proficient in hunting. The Americans was inhabited between some 30,000 and 15,000 years ago via the Bering Strait. The Clovis culture emerged some 13,000 years ago. Clovis men hunted big mammals until they abruptly disappeared 11,000 years ago. The Pacific, which was inhabited 3,500 years ago would be the last. Islands included the Solomon and Bismarck. These voyages were taken by agricultural people who carried domestic plants and animals in their canoes which would later be introduced to the new lands. As these people colonized new lands, they brought highly stratified societies, but also mass extinction of animals and deforestation.
The Ways we Are:
During their journeys, they created their own societies with their own customs, languages and traditions, which were usually small and personal. These Paleolithic bands moved frequently  and followed the food source. While men hunted, women gathered. They also had structure their bands and rules, which helped them govern themselves. Since they lived out in the open and depended on the vagaries of nature, life expectancy was low. Apart from daily tasks, there is clear evidence of rich interior life. They participated in their own rituals and ceremonies of different kinds were very common in each society.

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