Fri, September 22, 2017 at 12:16 pm GMT
Hello Karen.Do you like history.Let me learn with you.
Stone age. Is the earliest period of human culture, When man used tools which were made of stone, bone or wood.
(a)Early stone age(old stone age). It was started around 1,750,000BC and lasted about 750,000 and zinjanthropus was the only existed man.
Features of an early stone age
1.Man lived primitive life depending on nature. He depended on what nature has already contained like fruits, roots, animals and eggs.
2.Man made and used crude tools like stone, axes, knives etc.
3.Man lived nomadic life for searching food.
4.Man was hunting animals and gathering fruits and roots of trees.
5.Man ate raw food such as insects, fruits, roots and fish.
6.Man lived in caves near water sources.
7.Man had no clothes.
8.Man has low ability to control his environment.
Core
Olduvai Chopper
Oldowan Tools from Lokalalei, Kenya
Many hand axes have been found in Central Africa such as Zambezi in Victoria Falls,Kalambo Falls in Zambia, Orlorgesailie in Kenya, Nsongezi in Uganda and Oldovai gorge in Tanzania.
(b)The middle stone age
This age existed between750000BC and 50000BC.In this period man was still hunting and gathering wild fruits and seeds.
Characteristics of the middle age man.
1.He discovered fire.
2.He ate cooked food.
3.He become capable of living in cold weather areas.
4.He extended working hours from day to night.
5.His life become more advanced ie he use fire to change himself from dangerous animals.
6.Man developed some religious beliefs.
7.Permanent settlement started.
8.Hunting tools were sharper and handier but made of wood, stone and bone.
Awl
Omo Kibish Point
Middle Stone Age tool from Blombos Cave
Importance of fire discoveries
1.Improvement of shelter eg man started to drive away the dangerous animals from the cave and use these as home.
2.Improvement of family relation.Fire brought man togather in social matters like stories telling etc.
3.Man ate cooked and roasted food instead of raw food.They learned how to store meat through smoke.
4.Man had ability to clear a large bush and fell trees so he was capable living in a wooden areas.
5.Used to kill small animals for example rodents,rabbits etc. for his/her diet.
6.Man was able to make better weapons and tools. Fire was used to soften the tools made of wood.
7.Increase of working hours.Instead on depending on the sun man was able to work by using fire light during the night.
Middle stone tools were found in areas of Rift valley, the Uganda woodland, Tanzania highlands and Kenya high lands.
(d)The late stone age (new stone age)
This started from 50,000BC to the first millennium AD.The tools were better and tey were more sharper.The late stone tools were found in the areas like Nsongezi in Uganda along River Kagera, Magosi in Uganda, Cables caves in Kenya, Kondoa Irandi in Tanzania etc.
Characteristics of the late stone age.
African biface (scraper/cutting tool) dated to the Later Stone Age.
1.Man improved permanent settled life.
2.Man started domestication of animals and cultivation of plants.
3.Hunting method was improved because of better tools.
4.Population become increased due to permanent settlement, family life became more stable and this was the begining of settled communities
5.Man was able to produce surplus due to the use of fire and better tools.
6.Informal education started during this time.Elders used paints and drawings to teach the young generations
(d)Iron age.
Iron age is the period in which man made and use iron tools instead of stone and bone tools. Iron had reached in East Africa by 200BC and by 200AD had been carried out to South by ancestors of the modern Bantu.The early iron age began for about 100 to 1000AD. It was during this period when man started how to grow food crops. Between 1000AD and 1500AD population was increased due to increase in food production. By 1500AD man invented more iron tools such as iron axe, arrows, swords, daggas etc.These were found at Engaruka, Lake Victoria, Uvinza, Karagwe and Ugweno in Kilimanjaro, Maganja of Malawi, Futa Djalon of Nigeria Venda of Malawi and Mashona.
Characteristics of iron age
1.Division of labour and specialization started. Some became pastoralists and others become agriculturalists
2.Food production increased due increase in iron tools production.
3. More permanent settlement were observed.
4.The emergence of feudalism in some areas i.e the increase in the private ownership of major means of production.
5.Population become increased due to more production.
6.Iron tools were more stronger and sharper as the day went on.
7.There was diversification of economy among the people such as trade, agriculture, iron smelting and architect.
