Transcript The Paleolithic Age - Barrington 220 School District

The Paleolithic and
Neolithic Ages
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
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
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.
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?
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…
A quickly changing world…
Neolithic Age
8000 – 4000 BC
Bronze Age
3000 – 1200 BC
Iron Age
After 1000 BC