Ancient Europe

During lower Palaeolithic Age: 1.7 million BC - 200,000 BC, the peopling of Europe occurs, apparently in waves by separate hominid species; first Homo ergaster, around 1.7 million BC; then Homo heidelbergensis.

The earliest modern human found in Europe to date is 36,300 BC. The urge migratory herds in the tundra regions of southern Europe provide an abundant food supply that can be exploited with a relatively simple social organisation.

Sheep, goats, cattle and pigs are introduced to the region, followed by cereals by the end of the sixth millennium.

Post-glacial conditions, circa 10,00 - 6,000 BC reintroduced heavily forested landscape to middle and northern Europe largely replacing the grassland, steep and tundra and their big, herd herbivores with thick forest vegetation and the mainly small or scattered game associated with these environments.

Gathering, hunting and fishing continued as vigorously as ever both beyond the territories of the peasant settlers and indeed as a significant subcultural activity within the agricultural communities.

At the end of iron age, the peoples of northern Europe were increasingly connected to those of the Mediterranean world, who began to record there knowledge and impressions of the barbarians with whom they are trading and fighting. The Celts, Gauls and Germans did not use writing - their history was oral.

Since the beginning of the Christian era introduction to Europe had introduced rice, sorghum, sugarcane, cotton and several citrus fruits; amongst animals, the water buffalo and the silkworm had found an economic niche in southern Europe.
Ancient Europe