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

From Old to New Stone Age

Discovery of

Agriculture

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

Tools & Weapons

made of metal

3000 B.C.E

Tools & Weapons

made of stone

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

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

Beginning to Trade

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

• Traders traveled hundreds of miles to find what they needed

• Trade allowed people to make use of more resources and brought them into contact with new people from distant places

• This helped spread ideas around the ancient world

Summary

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