One of the most striking events of that time was the transition of man from the stage of the skillful (Homo habilis) to the stage of the rational (Homosapiens). This transition did not happen overnight, he had to overcome a long and difficult path. Until now, scientists are arguing about how it all happened when a reasonable person appeared, as he settled around the globe.

Many people tend to think that a man came from the African monkeys 8-5 million years ago, because the monkeys were divided into two branches. In one there were great apes, such as chimpanzees; in the other – Australopithecus, the ancestral form of man.

How did a man differ from a monkey? The whole point is that for a person the world around him is the object of his thought and speech. The formation of communities with certain goals led to the formation of mankind. As a result – the emergence of art.

The vast period of the primitive epoch makes it logical to periodize it. Periods of the primitive world:

1. Stone Age (2 million – 6 thousand years ago). It is in turn divided into:
   1. ancient, another name – Paleolithic, it consists of the lower, middle and upper (late);
   2. medium (mesolite);
   3. New (Neolithic);
2. the copper age (4-3 thousand years BC);
3. the Bronze Age (the beginning of the first millennium BC);
4. Iron Age (from the beginning of the 1st millennium BC).

One of the most striking achievements of the primitive man is his mastery of such skills as farming and cattle breeding. It happened about ten thousand years ago. How did people feed themselves before that? Their extraction of food at that time was not very different from animal habits.

There were three ways to get food:

1. gathering;
2. hunting;
3. fishing.

It is interesting that in the Paleolithic people of that time can follow reasonable solutions to problems. For example, despite the fact that the hunting tools were very primitive, a brilliant tactic helped them to starve, with the help of which they hunted animals. Only at the beginning of the Mesolithic bow and arrows appear, and hence the main quality of the hunter is now not the strength and tactics of action, but accuracy. At the same time, the fishing technique was improved, such devices as hooks and nets appeared, which are still in use.

In the era of the Mesolithic, there are first signs that people are moving from appropriation to agriculture. This is evidenced by such finds related to the Mesolithic epoch, such as sickles, grains of barley, wheat, etc.

In addition to farming, people began to develop and another type of farming – livestock. Scientists tend to argue that it was the farmers who first began to tame animals.

All this contributed to the alleviation of human life and, as a consequence, the growth of the human race.

Now man is not just part of nature. He himself is able to change the world around him, in particular, through art.

Already in the Stone Age, the first signs of the fact that a person begins to express himself through various kinds of art were discovered. In 1836 a French geologist, archaeologist Edouard Parte (1801-1871), in the Schaffthau grotto in the department of Vienne, discovered a plate on which engraving was made. E. Larthe was the founder of paleontology, he discovered the Aurignacian culture. This is the name of the culture of the late Paleolithic in Western Europe. A variety of female figurines of bone and stone have survived. These figurines, talking about the cult of the mother-ancestor, are called Venus. It is interesting that in different remote regions of the globe (Italy, Austria, Russia, France), similar Venes are found.

But still the main thing in art was the topic of hunting. And the main object of creativity were animals. Various found images of animals of primitive epoch indicate that hunters have very thoroughly studied various habits of animals. Comprehending the world around him, a man very accurately managed to depict animals on engravings, in sculptures made of stone, wood or clay. But the images of people were incomparably few, since the man himself did not enjoy such great attention as the world around him.

In the primeval epoch, people begin to use all sorts of symbols to convey their feelings and visions. The symbols of that time can be not only realistic and understandable, but also extremely conditional. These symbols bear a great aesthetic load, which conveys the feelings and opinions of the author.

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What is spirituality written on?

Many still believe that religion has developed since ancient times as the person has developed. There was, in other words, a linear process of development: from primitive forms – to complex cults. In science, too, such an approach dominated for a long time, but already from the middle of the last century, scientists abandoned these schemes, because of their inconsistency with a new array of facts. However, these schemes, long abandoned by science, continue to exist in popular culture. In literature, journalism, cinema, there are many stories about ancient savages who have not yet been invented by the gods, or have only just done so. Despite the fact that archaeological discoveries left less and less places for such views and even gave rise to a number of scientists to suggest that the most ancient person had knowledge of the One God-Creator, there was both faith and a religious cult.

The main problem here is that historians, culturologists and religious scholars often have little to rely on. After all, religion is more convenient to learn from texts than from archeology. This is the spiritual sphere of life, and it is not so easy to reconstruct the remains of bones and tools. There is a relatively small section of ancient history in which writing existed. (The first written monument dates to the very end of the 4th millennium BC The writing appears almost simultaneously with the statehood and approximately six thousand years after the domestication of plants and animals.) And there is a huge time layer – the oldest, prehistoric times, the dawn of mankind, when not only writing, but there was still no rock painting.

It is most convenient to say: the faith of the most ancient person was primitive, and maybe it did not exist at all, since there is no direct evidence. But to say so is to ignore the very unambiguous evidence of material monuments, to close your eyes to facts.

Since the beginning of the XX century, scientists are trying to reconstruct the worldview of the oldest people on the basis of archaeological finds. And this is done simultaneously with the study of the living tribes in Central Africa and Australia, leading an archaic way of life. All this makes it possible to speak reasonably about the religion and belief of our ancestors.

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All early civilizations arose in the fertile areas along the banks of major rivers in North Africa on the banks of the river. Nile (Egypt), between the rivers Tigris and Euphrates (Mesopotamia), p. Indus (India), p. The Yellow River and the Yangtze (China). As a result of the flood carried the natural fertilizer – fertile silt. The man soon realized that the coastal silt capable of producing fabulous harvests, if you learn how to adjust the flow of water: take it from the field during the spill and apply it during a drought. Artificial irrigation fields were the economic basis of the emergence and existence of early civilizations. But to create a complex irrigation system was possible only by uniting the efforts of many people. Joint carrying out complex works engendered a special social organization, a special control system; in other words, contribute to the formation of the first civilizations. At the same time, scientists believed that the despotic form of government in the early civilizations arose as a consequence of the need to maintain order in the irrigation system. To send a free people on the public works needed a despotic power.

Early civilization – civilization is local, very close, there was only around the rivers. The bulk of the land was the property of the community. In people’s minds communal ownership is likely to be considered as property of the god – patron of the community. In the development of early civilizations intensified social and material inequality, slavery arose. But slave labor was used mainly in the temple and the royal farms. The main way of economic life during the period of early civilizations remained free communal labor. The development of agriculture, crafts created the conditions of the day of establishing economic relations, developed river, sea trade, but was dominated by the natural exchange of goods. Despite the development of external relations, the dominant feature of the way of life, determined the outlook of human epoch of early civilizations, continued to remain closed.

This culture was followed by the archaic “culture”, while retaining some of its characteristics (the mythological perception of the world, the idea of the soul and spirits as the root cause of the phenomena of nature, and so on. N.). But at the same time, the world of human consciousness in that period is significantly different, and even the fact that the right to borrow is understood in a different way in this culture. The transition to agriculture destroyed the representation of primitive society on the synergies of the world. It becomes more difficult for the human perception. Agriculture in 400-600 times more productive than hunting, but the farmer is more vulnerable and defenseless before the forces of nature, hence the deification of natural elements (sun, sky, earth, and so on. N.). in the era of the early civilizations of people still believe in the gods, but it is true gods, not just the powerful spirits of primitive culture. Along with the forces of nature management function, they take the role of first builders and patrons of the powerful man rose above the despotic state, which was perceived as a continuation of the cosmic order. Therefore, maintaining the features of the previous appearance of the archaic era (residues totemic consciousness), the gods of the early period of the kingdoms acquire traits of people standing at the head of government and the people – kings, rulers, high priests. The similarity of the gods of that era with the kings and the rulers determined the acquisition of a new function – ensuring the temporal order.

The joint participation of men and gods in maintaining the life and world order in the culture of ancient kingdoms was secured with the help of the sacred myths and legends. Their scenario was as follows: the gods created this world and the order, paying for this with their lives and blood in gratitude people should sacrifice to the gods and to perform their established laws (in the old Babylonian myth of Atra-Hasis describes the assembly of the gods, at which it was decided to create a man to save the gods from the sad need to work in order to maintain its own existence, but to create people, the gods killed one of the gods of the meeting).

The perception of earthly existence as an endless succession of sacrifices offered to the gods and their earthly incarnation – the governor, would inevitably contribute to the final formation of the cult of “other world.” In this future life, life after death, it was seen as a kind of compensation, t. E. A fee for complying with all of life’s obligations directly depended on how righteous way of life was dead.

The belief in the inevitability of the continued existence of man after his physical death is common to the cultures of the people of early civilizations, and is based on the observation of the cycle of nature, where death is the beginning of a new life cycle. Most clearly faith in the triumph of life over death embodied in the culture of ancient Egypt – pyramids, art of embalming, and the cult of Osiris – the god realm of the dead, the famous “Book of the Dead.”

Thus, many similarities can be traced across a variety of cultures ancient Eastern civilizations in the course of their development. These include the foundation of economic activity – irrigated agriculture; the early appearance of statehood in the form of despotism; a close relationship with the emerging systems of religious cults and primitive magic performances; selection in the system of knowledge of mathematics and astronomy, which, however, remain the monopoly of the priestly caste; predominance of architectural forms of simplicity, monumentality and integrity.

In general, ancient Oriental civilization made a great contribution to world culture, laid the basis for it, but the socio-economic processes in them were much slower than similar processes in the ancient world.

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The study of primitive culture in the framework of cultural studies is of great difficulty. This is due to excessive removal of this phase of our time, and with a lack, at the paucity of actual, tangible data on primitive culture, lifestyle and worldview of the first people.

Therefore, the construction of scientific concepts of primitive culture is possible not only on the basis of archeological data (i.e. E. On the basis of the surviving material objects of ancient cultures), but also on developments in ethnographic field (i.e. E. On the basis of the description of modern tribal communities, cut off from civilization).

For more in-depth study of primitive cultures often resort to these religious studies, psychology, linguistics, and others. In this case, scientists are studying not only the material aspects of life of primitive people, many features of their world view, their religious world view, the psychology of man’s relationship to itself, to another, to world in general.

Thus, the primitive culture, we consider characteristic of primitive man through consciousness, i.e. E. After the disclosure of the so-called mythological consciousness.

In cultural studies was a tradition to understand the myth, mythology, at least, in two senses. The first understanding of the myth refers to the Enlightenment and its followers of the ideology of the next century. According to the educational ideology, the myth are “delusions, fantasies, fiction” in the views of the ancient (primitive) people. Also, according to this concept, the myths – a tale of gods and heroes, about the creation of the world and man. Enlightening explanation of the myth is based on the installation of the fact that in a society and culture there is progress, evolution of morals and of human consciousness from the lowest (the primitive, barbaric) level to a higher level – the level of civilization and the rule of reason and science. Therefore myth – it is a product of pre-scientific thinking. It is generated by human weaknesses, fears, lack of knowledge about the world and natural phenomena. Enlightenment were convinced that with the approval of science, new knowledge about the world, the myth will eventually be completely eliminated from the culture and the human world, “a man wiser and will not invent anything more.” That is a myth – a cultural phenomenon inherent only in primitive thinking and at the present stage is virtually absent – these are the views of the representatives of the first concept.

The second understanding of the myth arises in the XX century. A new look at the concept of myth is composed of AF Losev, E. Cassirer, L. Levy-Bruhl, CG Jung, B. Malinowski, Levi-Strauss and others. The main feature of this approach to myth is the increased attention the psychological and phenomenological dimension of culture. This means that the domain of existence of the mythology in the first place is human consciousness. According to the concept of Losev and Jung, myth – are the deepest layers of human consciousness arising in ancient times, but has an effect on the current state of culture and society. Moreover, the spread of myths does not preclude the growth of education, nor advances in science and technology. Just die and lose their power to influence people some myths (obsolete) arise, shall be approved by the new. Thus, according to this concept, a myth like “forever”, it is inherent not only ancient but also modern people. Myth is formed due to human nature, “the man himself wants to myth, the man – a myth-creating creature”, he cannot live without myths and entirely depends on them. According to Jung, the source of myth lies in the “collective unconscious” of man and society. Since the source of the myth – the inner world of man, the many cultural processes can be considered, describe and explain, even through a special state of consciousness – the mythological.

Next, we discuss the main characteristics of the mythological consciousness as reflecting the essence of primitive culture.

Ritual and magic, thus, provide a sense of stability, interrelatedness and interdependence of all things, and most importantly – Refundable constant feeling of his unity with the world.

Mythological consciousness through all of these beliefs has created a sense of human integrity and harmony of life, the whole gave over significant deeper meaning. That is why many say one of the main features of the myth: a myth – it forms the beginning of the meaning of culture is shaped, a visual embodiment of the spiritual level of being, i.e. the adaptation of the spiritual world in terms of human perception…

Despite such an exotic way of thinking, the ancient people in its own way to explore the surrounding their flora and fauna. We know edible, medicinal and poisonous plants. We know the properties and habits of game animals.

In the primitive stage of development of human society has developed – matrilineal clan. Recognition of ancestral ties received public importance, as it became a major constitutive feature of the new production team.

Thus, the psychological significance of primitive culture is that it lays the foundations of human culture. These are the basics: social organization, language, kinship relationships, rituals, art, beginnings of scientific knowledge, principles of regulation of social and productive life – remain with mankind forever, and constitute the essence of its existence.

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Not enough institutional independence has damaged nurturing of techniques and skills. Considering that the condition stays the largest consumer and citizens’ income is concerned, the federal government warrants its intervention. In the event interference and the bureaucratic tactic proceed, doubts expressed by Kamala Devi a few years ago can come true: The Ministry’s meddling could provide ‘an end of all ethnic routines in this nation.’ The national institutions’ functionality hasn’t helped the trigger either. The Parliamentary Board has pulled up artwork academies due to their insufficient attitude that was transparency and lethargic. Because it claims adequate storage-space isn’t available the National Museum has not bought items to get a longtime. The National Vision on Antiquities and Monuments could achieve only 12 of its target. On performing arts which it had dedicated itself to the Signet Academia, despite 20 years, has not made a large physique of literature. The way in which forward will be to adopt the strategy of an arm’s. Its financing must raise, but should not bargain institutional independence. For their element, corporations have to be translucent in their dealings, most probably to public critique, and follow a platform. The visit of appropriate and skilled persons to steer corporations that are societal is important to achieve this.

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About 10 thousand years ago began warming and the glacier began to retreat, which again forced people to adapt to changing conditions.

About 7 thousand years BC there was another great change in the life of humankind. In some regions of the globe arose the first centers of agriculture and cattle breeding.

People made the transition from the appropriating economy (collecting, hunting, and fishing) to food producing sector (agriculture, cattle breeding). The first human groups were not simply a use of (assign) with food, but purposefully to produce them.

The transition to a producing economy was so important to the history of humankind that called “Neolithic revolution” (the term has no social value).

It is difficult to assess the significance of the changes that have affected all, without exception, aspects of human existence. On the extent of changes in people’s life shows at least the fact that for several hundred years the world population has increased five times.

Difficult is the question of the origin of agriculture

However, independent development in several regions of the Earth suggests that the process was quite natural. Some scientists think that people noticed in the care of wild plants to improve yield. Then was realized the purposeful planting of plants, especially cereals.

Other scientists point out that after warming and climate change has gone hunting on the steppe animals and this led to the emergence of interest of the people to other sources of food.

Third, scientists note that the first centers of agriculture appeared in a very complicated for people’s lives, e.g. in the foothills and mountains of the Middle East. The difficulty of obtaining food, the rational use of natural resources and led to the emergence of agriculture skills.

Most likely all these reasons played a role in the development of agriculture, although definitively answer many of the questions still not possible.

In the Neolithic period, there were cattle, although accurately dating the time of its occurrence is not yet possible. It is concerned with the attempts of people to create a “living supply of meat.” Initially, it seems, were young animals are those species which are hunted. Then became apparent and other benefits of Pets.

During this period, there were other successes in different areas of life. Great heights reached by the stone. Some tools were now made from several stones, fastened on a wooden base. For example, it produced sickles, saws.

In the Neolithic were invented pottery, spinning, weaving? Now the fish were caught with bone harpoons and hooks. People learned to make boats. Hunting opportunities have greatly expanded with the invention of the bow and arrow. The invention of the wheel led to the appearance of wheeled transport.

The achievements of the “Neolithic revolution”, and above all the emergence of the productive economy, close down humanity to the origin of civilization.

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The first historical evidence of the appearance on Earth of man is the most primitive tools, the age of which, according to paleo-anthropologists – specialists who study the history of people, about 2 million years. The fact of the appearance of tools suggests that this period began the formation of man and humankind. However, only 50 and 30 thousand years ago Homo sapiens appeared (neoanthrope, CRO-magnon) man which could be considered a cultural being.

The main occupation of the Cro-Magnons were hunting, gathering and fishing, using stone, wood and bone tools. The technique used in their manufacture were already a better character associated with the secondary processing of raw materials (for example, the cleaved silicon wafers were polished and turned into scrapers, gravers, knives, etc.). In addition to caves and huts that were used as dwellings, were built from animal bones. Cro-Magnons made clothes from animal skins and plant materials. At this time there cave paintings, figurines and ornaments.

Afterwards, in the Mesolithic and Neolithic — perfected instruments of labor, is complicated funeral rites, indicating the presence of the cult of ancestors and belief in the afterlife, the first vehicle is a boat and skiing, originated in ceramics and weaving, but the main thing is that people have moved from hunting and gathering to agriculture and pastoralism, which resulted in the spread of sedentary lifestyle.

Based on the data of archaeology, Ethnography and linguistics can be described the main features of the primitive (ancient, archaic) culture — syncretism, anthropomorphism, tradition, social equality.

The syncretism of primitive culture means neuroscientist, the inseparability of the perception by the ancient people of the various phenomena of the world around and properties inherent in the people. Syncretism is manifested in the following forms:

The syncretism of society and nature. Primitive man perceived himself as an organic chatty of nature, feeling his kinship with all living beings, not distinguishing himself from the natural world;

The syncretism of the personal and the public. Primitive man identified himself with the community to which he belonged. “I” was replaced by the existence of “we” as a kind. The emergence of man in its modern form was associated with the displacement or replacement of identity that manifested itself only at the level of instincts;

1. Syncretism of various spheres of culture. Art, primitive religion, medicine, agriculture, animal husbandry, crafts, foraging was not isolated from each other. Art objects (masks, figures, statues, musical instruments, etc.) has long been used mainly as the objects of everyday life;
2. Syncretism as a principle of thinking. In the thinking of primitive man, there was no clear opposition between subjective and objective; the observed and imagined; internal and external; of the living and the dead; the material and the spiritual. An important feature of primitive thinking was syncretic perception of symbols and reality, word and object that this word refers to. So by using harm to the subject or image of a person was considered possible to inflict real evil. This has led to the emergence of fetishism — the belief in the ability of subjects to possess supernatural power. Special symbol of primitive culture was the word. Names seen as a part of a person or thing.

Anthropomorphism (from the Greek. Anthropos — man, morphed — form) is endowed with human qualities of objects and phenomena of inanimate nature, celestial bodies, plants and animals. Primitive man used nature in his image and likeness. In modern language, there are many idioms that create a picture of the world using human kind characteristics: for example, nature rejoices, the earth is tired, it is raining, and the clouds are floating, lightning strikes.

Traditionalism. In primitive culture had a special significance, as this tradition is the basis of stability and order that helped to organize community life, avoiding arbitrariness and chaos. For primitive culture was characterized by the hostility to innovation and dissent, which to some extent hindered the development of society.

Among the features of primitive culture includes the existence of social equality, based on the absence of private property and property inequality. In this regard, in primitive society, there was no political organization and government as its main element, and the culture of social relations built on the principles of community traditionalism.

The lack of writing meant that knowledge and skills could be transferred in this culture only through direct contact. The old, much-traveled people with a good memory is especially prized in this culture, because he was a “walking library”.

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