Primitive world. Life of prehistoric man

Primitive (pre-class) era in the development of mankind covers a huge time interval - from 2.5 million years ago to 5 millennium BC. E. Today, thanks to the works of archaeologists, it is possible to restore almost the entire history of the emergence of human culture. In Western countries, its initial stage is called differently: a primitive, tribal society, a classless or egalitarian system.

What is the era of the primitive world?

Class societies appeared in different territories at different times, so the boundaries that delineate the primitive world are very blurred. One of the largest anthropologists, interested in primitive history - AI. Pershitz. He proposed the following criterion for division. Societies that existed before the appearance of classes, the scientist calls apopolytheymi (that is, emerged before the emergence of the state). Those that continued to exist after the emergence of the social strata are synthetical.

The era of the primitive world gave birth to a new species of man, which differed from the preceding Australopithecus. A skilled man could already move on two legs, and also use a stone and a stick as tools. However, on this all the differences between him and his ancestor ended. Like Australopithecus, a skillful person could communicate, only using cries and gestures.

Primitive world and descendants of Australopithecus

After a million years of evolution, a new species, which was called a right-browed person, still very little differed from its predecessor. It was covered in wool, and parts of the body resembled monkeys in everything. He also still looked like a monkey in his habits. However, a straight-bodied man already possessed a large brain, by means of which he mastered new abilities. Now man could hunt with the help of created tools. New tools helped the primitive man to carve animal carcasses, to hang wooden sticks.

Further development

Only thanks to the enlarged brain and acquired skills, a man could survive the ice age and settle in Europe, northern China, the Indian subcontinent. About 250 thousand years ago for the first time a reasonable person appeared , or homo sapiens. From this time, primitive tribes begin to use cave animals for housing. They settle in them in large groups. The primitive world begins to take on a new appearance: this time is considered the era of the birth of family relations. People of one tribe are buried on special rituals, to protect their graves with stones. Findings of archaeologists confirm that a man of that era already strove to help relatives in illnesses, shared food and clothing with them.

The role of fauna in human survival

An important role for the evolution, development of hunting and livestock production was played in the primitive epoch by the environment, namely animals of the primitive world. This category includes many long-extinct species. For example, woolly rhinoceroses, musk oxen, mammoths, giant deer, saber-toothed tigers, cave bears. From these animals depended life and death of the ancestors of people.

It is well known that primitive man hunted woolly rhinoceroses already about 70 thousand years ago. Their remains are found in the territory of modern Germany. Some animals did not pose a particular danger to primitive tribes. For example, despite its impressive size, the cave bear was slow and sluggish. Therefore, the primitive tribes easily won it in the battle. Some of the first domesticated animals are: a wolf, gradually become a dog, as well as a goat that gave milk, wool and meat.

What did human evolution actually do?

It should be noted that the multimillion-dollar evolution of man prepared for survival precisely as a hunter and collector. Thus, the primary goal of the evolutionary process was the primitive in man. The new world, with its class stratification, is a completely alien environment.

Some scholars compare the emergence of the class system in society with expulsion from paradise. At all times, the social elite could afford better living conditions, better education and leisure. Those who belong to the lower class are forced to rest content with minimal rest, heavy physical labor and a modest dwelling. In addition, many scholars are inclined to believe that in a class society, morality acquires very abstract traits.

The decline of the primitive communal system

One of the reasons why the primitive world has replaced class stratification is the overproduction of material products. The very fact of excessive production testifies that at some point the society reached a high level of development for its time.

Primitive people have learned not only to produce tools and household items, but also to exchange them among themselves. Soon in the primitive society began to appear leaders - those who could manage the process of production of products. The patrimonial community was gradually replaced by the class system. Some primitive tribes already by the end of the prehistoric period were structured communities in which there were leaders, assistant leaders, judges and commanders.