Middle Holocene Climate Change
Learning Objectives
For this unit, students will be able to:
- Understand the role that global climate change played in the changes to human societies during the Middle Holocene. As our planet became drier:
- Humans began to partner with animals (i.e. horses, donkeys, dromedary camels, Bactrian camels, yaks, llamas, and alpacas) that were adapted to these new conditions
- Humans became more efficient in using their resources [secondary products: plants (i.e. olive oil from olives, wine from grapes, and linen from flax) and animals (i.e. wool, silks, milk products, animal transportation, and animals power).
- Humans began to gather around sources of water (circumscription). These early population densities led to the development of the first complex societies. These early states needed to maintain order and distribute resources in order to survive.
- Humans began to sail across more open oceans as global wind patterns became less intense.
- Humans began to use their drought-tolerant domestic animals partners to the expanding grassland and desert landscapes in order to create networks.
- Humans' discovery of the use of tin to make bronze became the driving forces in the making of the first hemispheric exchange system.
Global Climate Change
The Middle Holocene (c. 6,500 to 5,000 years ago) represent one of the most important episodes of climate change in human history. In this unit, you will examine some of the different ways that humans adapted to these changing conditions.
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BBC: How Earth Made Us (Water)
View the segment between 2:47 to 7:55 |
Middle Holocene Photo Essay Scavenger Hunt
Create a Photo Essay. Use either word processing software or presentation software to show how our planet has changed over time. Answer the questions below. Remember to show and tell (pictures with explanatory captions).
The Green Sahara: The planetary changes between the Early Holocene and the Middle Holocene are best seen in the Sahara. Answer the following questions.
Domestication of Drought Tolerant Species: As our planet became cooler and drier, humans began to partner with animals that were able to handle these new conditions. These new climate conditions resulted in landscapes becoming more open (less vegetation). With animals to provide transportation and landscapes becoming more open, humans began to interact at increased levels.
Domestication of Altitude Tolerant Species: During the Middle Holocene, it appears that humans started to live year round in high altitude regions.
Secondary Products: During the Middle Holocene, humans started using their available resources more efficiently. They started to convert plant products into items that could be transported over long distances without refrigeration, and they started to use animals in new ways other than killing it for meat.
The Green Sahara: The planetary changes between the Early Holocene and the Middle Holocene are best seen in the Sahara. Answer the following questions.
- How big was Lake Megachad? (remember the unit of measurement) Find something to compare it against (it is the same size as. . .). Provide a map that shows the location of Lake Megachad.
- Find an example of Early Holocene rock art from the Sahara that contains an animal that does not usually live in the desert (i.e. crocodiles, hippopotamuses, giraffes, cattle, lions, hyenas, etc.)
Domestication of Drought Tolerant Species: As our planet became cooler and drier, humans began to partner with animals that were able to handle these new conditions. These new climate conditions resulted in landscapes becoming more open (less vegetation). With animals to provide transportation and landscapes becoming more open, humans began to interact at increased levels.
- Find a a map of the world's desert (pay close attention to the deserts of Afro-Eurasia).
- Donkey (domesticated from Somalian and Nubian Asses). On a satellite map of Africa use arrows to point at the areas where donkeys originated (Somalia and Nubia).
- Find an example of ancient art (at least 2,000 years old) that shows donkeys in a caravan (i.e. from Egypt or Mesopotamia).
- Find a picture of a Dromedary Camel.
- Locate a map that shows the range of dromedary camels.
- Dromedary Habitat Insert a picture of dromedary camels crossing a hot desert (Arabian or Saharan Deserts).
- List 3 factors that allow Dromedary camels to adapt to arid landscapes.
- Find a picture of a Bactrian Camel.
- Locate a map that show the range of Bactrian Camels.
- Bactrian Camel Habitats: Insert a picture of Bactrian camels crossing a cold desert (Central Eurasia).
- List 3 factors that allow Bactrian camels to adapt to arid landscapes.
- Horses: find a picture of a Przewalski's horse (this would have been similar to the first horses that were domesticated).
- Horse Habitats: What is the steppe?
- Insert a map of the Eurasian steppes
- Horse Habitats: Insert a picture of horses on the Central Eurasian steppe
Domestication of Altitude Tolerant Species: During the Middle Holocene, it appears that humans started to live year round in high altitude regions.
- Yaks. Insert a picture of a yak in a mountainous environment.
- Llamas. Insert a picture of a llama in a mountainous environment.
- Alpacas. Insert a picture of an alpaca in a mountainous environment.
Secondary Products: During the Middle Holocene, humans started using their available resources more efficiently. They started to convert plant products into items that could be transported over long distances without refrigeration, and they started to use animals in new ways other than killing it for meat.
- Wine. Insert pictures of the following 3 steps in wine making: growing grapes, using a wine press, and a collection of wine vessels (i.e. from the Mediterranean)
- Olive Oil. Insert 2 pictures that represent the ancient olive oil production.
- Silk. Show 4 steps that used in the production of silk fabric.
- Animal Transportation. Show examples of 2 different animals being used for transportation—like a truck.
- Animal Power. Show examples of 2 different animals being used for power—like a tractor.
- Animal Fiber. Show a picture of sheep being sheared.
- Food from Animals that do not kill the animals.