THE EARLY MAN QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

THE EARLY MAN QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. List economic activities of early man during the Stone Age period.

   i)  Hunting wild animals ii)  Gathering wild fruits, roots and vegetables, insects and eggs.

   iii) Fishing iv)

   Crop farming

   v)  Livestock keeping. vi)  Trading vii) Weaving/basketry viii)  Making stone implements and bone implements ix)  Pottery

2. Identify two aspects of the culture of the early man that had their origins in the late Stone Age. i) Growing crops/agriculture ii)

   Establishing permanent settlements iii)

   Making microlitic composite tools iv)

   Domesticating animals

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 v)  Beginning of religion and government vi)

Pottery and basketry

1. a) Describe two theories about the origin of human beings.
   1. Scientific theory maintains that human beings evolved from ape – like creatures and developed through adoption over a long period of time.
   2. The creation theory – according to many world religions eg. Christianity,

      Islam and Judaism, the human race was created by

   God at a specific time in history to fulfill God’s purpose.

   1. Mythical or traditional theories/traditional legends.

   b) Discuss the benefits of the discovery of fire to early man.

   1. The discovery and use of fire made it possible for early man to keep warm during cold nights and seasons.
   2. Fire enhanced the security of early man as it was kept burning to keep away wild animals and other possible sources of danger.
   3. It was a source of lighting at night which facilitated other productive activities at night.
   4. Fire improved hunting activities of the early man as it was used to harden the tips of the tools for hunting.
   5. Early man used fire to extract poison from plants which they used for hunting. vi)  Fire was used as a source of food preservation method. For example drying meat or fish.

      vii)  Fire was used to attract animals towards set traps so that they were easily trapped. viii) Fire was used to cook food and make it

      palatable and more nutritious/tasty. ix) Fire was used to bake and harden wood for special use eg. stools and hoe – sticks.

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   x) It was used for communication.

2. Name two factors which influenced early man to begin domestic animals.
   1. Changes in climatic conditions resulted into aridity which forced

      animals to migrate,

   2. Over hunting by early man led to the reduction of animal

 population. iii)  Increase in human population forced the

animals to migrate further away.

iv) Adoption of settled life necessitated domestication of animals.

1. State two distinct characteristics of Homo erectus. 3

   i) Homo erectus had a big brain capacity / higher thinking capacity. , ii) Homo erectus walked upright/had an upright posture/bipedal. iii) Homo erectus had the ability to grasp objects.

2. a)  What things do archaeologists use to reconstruct the activities of

   people who lived in prehistoric times?

   1. The remains of the weapons that they used.
   2. The remains of the tools that they used.
   3. The remains of animals found at the prehistoric sites. iv)  The remains of plants they lived on.
   4. The remains of their dwelling places.
   5. The remains of their artwork eg. rock paintings vii) The remains of traditional craft.
      1. The remains of beads.
      2. The remains of coins
      3. The remains of garments xi)

      The remains of charcoal

 b)  Explain five ways in which Homo erectus attempted to improve his

way of life.

1. Improved stone tools through the use of Levallois method.
2. Invented fire which was used for cooking, lighting, warming and

   protection against wild animals.

3. Made and lived in caves for more permanent settlement and

   security.

4. Made clothes out of animal’s skins by scrapping them clean, using

   efficient stone tools.

5. Had thick skull
6. Had well developed thumb for grasping vii)  Had small jaws compared to

   earlier forms.

1. State one characteristic of Homo sapiens.
   1. Was thick and heavily built ii)  Homo Sapiens had a large brain iii) Walked upright/had an upright posture/bipedal iv)  Had refined speech
   1. Had thick skull
   2. Had well developed thumb for grasping vii)

      Had small jaws compared to earlier forms

2. Give one characteristics of Homo Erectus
   1. Homo erectus was upright/bipedal/walked with two legs ii)

   Homo erectus was more intelligent than earlier apes/higher

   thinking capacity.

   1. Homo erectus had a bigger brain capacity.
   2. Homo erectus had a more developed speech then the earlier apes.
   3. Homo erectus had a more developed hand for grasping tools.
   4. Homo erectus had a long skull. vii)  Homo erectus had a long protruding jaw.