From Hunters and Gatherers to Farmers

The Most Important Change in Human History

The Stone Age• Stone Age: named because of the types of

tools used by people• Paleolithic Age: Old Stone Age• Neolithic Age: New Stone Age

•Burial rituals point to a belief in a world beyond the grave.

From Old to New Stone Age

Discovery of

Agriculture

8000 B.C.E2 million B.C.E

Paleolithic Age Neolithic Age

Tools & Weapons made of metal

3000 B.C.E

Tools & Weapons made of stone

The Neolithic Period• Neolithic Revolution– significant changes

caused by the development of agricultural societies.

Creating a Stable Food Supply

Hunters & Gatherers• Hunt wild animals• Gather nuts, berries, and

other plants• Lived out in the open• Nomadic lifestyle

Farmers• Domesticate animals for

food• Plant crops• Lived in permanent shelters• Stable lifestyle

Agriculture = growing crops & domesticating animals

Permanent Shelter

Protection from weather

Protection from wild animals

More comfort

able

Ability to form

communities

New ways of cooking

Establishing Communities

• Farming allowed people to settle down near their farms

• This created early towns and villages• Ability to divide work and work together• Shared defense

Developing New Jobs

Farmers

Weavers

Tool Makers

Traders

Builders

Beginning to Trade

• Trade = the business of buying and selling or exchanging items

• Trade brought people into contact with new people from distant places

Summary

• Farming changed peoples lives• Stable food supply• Permanent shelters and communities• New jobs and trade