The Paleolithic and Neolithic Ages

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The Paleolithic and Neolithic Ages
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Paleolithic Age

• Paleolithic means old stone
• used simple stone tools
• Earliest humans were nomadic
• Moved from place to place to survive.
• Followed animal herds and warmer weather.
• First lived in caves
• Later began to create shelters from wood and
  animal hides.
• Hunted and gathered for food.
• Learned what animals to hunt and what plants to
  eat.
• How?
• Created art
• Mostly depictions of animals

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Use of Fire

• Humans developed use of fire by about 500,000 BC
• Benefits?
• Provides warmth
• Keeps larger animals away.
• Cooks food
• Tasted better
• Easier to chew
• Lasted longer
• Better nutrition
• better quality of life
• more people!
• Use of fire was especially important during the
  last Ice Age
• 100,000 to 8000 BC

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Beginnings of Civilization

• End of last Ice Age was followed by the Neolithic
  Revolution
• 8000-4000BC
• The shift from hunting animals and gathering
  food to keeping animals and growing food.
• Systematic Agriculture
• Growing of food on a regular basis.
• Domestication
• Adapting animals for human use.

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Effects of Neolithic Revolution

• Because there is enough food, humans could give
  up their nomadic ways of life.
• Begin to live in settled communities.
• Gives people more control over their lives.
• More time?

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Effects of the Neolithic Revolution

• Development of food surpluses meant not everyone
  needed to farm.
• Division of labor
• Different jobs for different people.
• People do the job they are the best at.
• Development of trade
• Construction of storehouses and walls
• Protect food surplus
• Development of armies?
• Society improves quickly

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A quickly changing world
Neolithic Age
8000 4000 BC
Bronze Age
3000 1200 BC
Iron Age
After 1000 BC