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Unit 2: Early Humans

250,000 years BP – 3,000 BCE

For most of our 250,000-year history, all humans were foragers. But then, about 12,000 years ago, some people started farming. Was it all a huge mistake?

Lesson 2.1

The Earliest Humans
What was the Neolithic Revolution? And what did it have to do with farming? Examine the shift from foraging to agriculture and the incredible changes that resulted.

Paleolithic Humans

Lesson 2.2

Migration and Art
Why did early humans move to new places and create art during this period? Dig into 80,000-year-old evidence to answer this question.

Lesson 2.3

Foraging Societies
Hunting and gathering required great knowledge and skill. How did these skills help foragers thrive for hundreds of thousands of years?

Neolithic Revolution

Lesson 2.4

The Agricultural Revolution
How smooth was the transition between foraging and agriculture? Explore why the Agricultural Revolution began, and analyze the pros and cons of this revolutionary shift.

Lesson 2.5

The Biggest Mistake Humans Ever Made?
Was the development of agriculture good or bad? Investigate the consequences—both positive and negative—of farming for humanity.