Neolithic Revolution

Turning Points in History

Paleolithic Age: Dates and Descriptions

• “Old Stone Age”• 2.5 million – 8000 B.C.E

(Before Common Era)• Adapted to their environment

– Use of crude stone tools and weapons

– Developed fire– Early basic language for

verbal communication– Clothing made from animal

skins

Paleolithic Tools and Clothing

Paleolithic Age: Food and Shelter

• Nomadic– No permanent home

• Temporary shelter• Constant search for

food – follow the herds• Small groups: 50 people• Hunter/Gatherers

Paleolithic Temporary Shelter

Paleolithic Temporary Shelter

Paleolithic Age: Specialized Jobs

• Hunter/Gatherers– Men primarily hunted – Women gathered fruits,

berries, etc.

Paleolithic Age: Religion and Art

• Cave paintings• Belief in afterlife– Preparing of bodies at

funerals – buried with tools and weapons

• Jewelry• Music – instruments

made from animal bones

Burials – Jewelry - Instruments

Paleolithic Cave Paintings

Paleolithic Age: Government

• Not government as we think of it today

• Attempts at being organized

• First trace of spoken language

• “Survival of the fittest”• Elderly and sick left

behind – slow down nomadic lifestyle

Neolithic Revolution

• Neolithic Revolution a.k.a. Agricultural Revolution

• Development of agriculture (farming)

• Warmer weather allows for the growth of plants where it had been ice

• Allows nomads to settle in one place and grow own food

• Ends nomadic lifestyle

Neolithic Age: Dates and Descriptions

• “New Stone Age”• 8000 – 3000 B.C.E.• Agriculture • Domesticated animals• Polished stone tools• Pottery• Population increase

Neolithic Farm Tools

Neolithic Pottery and Baskets

Neolithic Age: Food and Shelter

• Grow crops• Domesticate animals for

meat and milk• Still do some hunting• Developed new farm

tools• Live in permanent

shelters – settle the first villages

Neolithic Age: Specialized Jobs• Scarce resources lead to wars• New Social Classes Emerge

– Chiefs and headmen – Warriors: prestige and

power• Hunters• Farmers• Weaver• Potters• Herders• Tool Makers

Neolithic Age: Religion and Art

• Art becomes more sophisticated

• Pottery• Wall paintings• Religious shrines• Polytheism– Belief in multiple gods

Neolithic Religious Shrine

Neolithic Age: Government

• Beginning of formal organizations – villages

• Traditional Economy• Some barter and trade

with other villages• Subsistence agriculture– Grow food for own

consumption and survival