Period 1

Paleolithic Neolithic

Meaning “Old Stone Age” “New Stone Age”

Dwelling Mouths of caves, huts, skin tents Mud bricks supported by timber

Lifestyle Nomadic; in groups of up to 50; tribal society; hunters and gatherers

Sedentary; farmed in permanent settlements and raised/herded animals; agriculture was discovered & became a major source of food.

Tools Chipped stone, wooden weapons, light stone tools (not sharpened)

Polished stone tools made sharper by grinding

Clothes Animal skins Animal skins, woven garments

Governance Tribal society. Clan controlled by elders or the powerful

Military and religious leaders had authority.

Economy No private property Concept of private property and ownership emerged for things such as land, livestock, tools

Health People were taller and lived longer than Neolithic people.

People shorter and had lower life expectancy. Diseases rose up. Women had more children.

Art Cave Paintings Wall paintings

Main discovery Fire; rough stone tools Agriculture and tools with polished stones, the plow.

Food Hunted and gathered Grew crops such as corn, wheat, beans, etc.

The Paleolithic

Before food production peoplewere hunters and gatherers.

Paleo Society

• H&G did not allow for accumulation of much wealth highly egalitarian, Paleo societies.

• No specialists Most possessed the same skills sets (including women)

• Relationships between women and men were usually more equal.

• Women brought home most of the food consumed.

Migration Into…

Migration Technological Innovation• Movement of people technological innovations

• Stone blades and points fastened to shafts replaced earlier hand axes

• Tools made from bones• Grindstones• Spear Throwers• Bow & Arrow

New System

• Necessity led to the need to change hunter-gatherer lifestyle to a more sedentary, farming one.

• Drought Extinction of large animals Finding a secure source of water & Settling down

Neolithic Revolution

Began around 12,000 BCEIt’s the systematic cultivation of plants

and domestication of animals.It introduced settled communities.

Why did it happen?Climate ChangeScarcity of foodIncreasing population

Where did it happen?Eurasia, Zagros Mts., it had an ideal climate and 9 of the 14domesticatableanimals of the world,including the “Big 5.”

(America has only 5,some places have none)

Zagros

China and America developed the NRindependently while Egypt acquiredit from their neighbors. Australianever had a Neolithic Revolution.

Only .1% of plants and animals areEdible, most are indigestible, poisonous,Low in nutrition, tedious to prepare,Difficult to gather, or dangerous to hunt.

“Neolithic Firsts”

1. Agriculture provides steady food supply2. Village settled life, fewer nomads3. Animals are domesticated

Domestication alters the plant or animalincreasing traits that are more desirable.

New Technology TextilesProtect settlers from new conditions.

Fire Good for plants & soil.

PotteryHeld grain surplus.

Cradles of Civilization

New Societies

ChiefdomsPastoralism

Village-Based Agricultural Societies

Çatal Höyük A Neolithic Settlement 7500 BCE

Relatively egalitarian—no evidence of labor specialization or gender distinction

Grew cereals, peas, domesticated sheep and began to domesticate cattle; however, only about 40% of diet at the highest

The End