Transition from Paleolithic to Neolithic to “Civilization”

Paleolithic Era (3 million/250,000 – ca. 10,000 bce)

• Type of tools– Stone

• Basic survival or subsistence level– Influenced by climate and climate changes– Nomadic– Hunters and gatherers

• Bands– About 30-50– Family and culture groups

• General social equality– Economic roles a little different but the burden of the tasks and the

level of responsibility and decision making was based on need not pre-established roles

• Women gathered berries, nuts etc.• Men hunters

• Natufian society of the eastern Mediterranean

• 4 million in 10,000 bce to 5 million in 5000 bce and rose to 14 million in 3000 bce and about 100 million by 500 bce

• Jerico• Catal Huyuk• Industries

– Pottery– Metallugy– Textile

10,000 bce – 1000 CE

100,000bce – 10000bce

1000 CE – 2000 CE

Regional discoveries of cultural representations during Paleolithic and early Neolithic Eras

Neolithic Era - New Stone Age

• Actually transition from nomadic society to sedentary society

• Type of living changed from caves and open areas to actual dwellings

• Migration continues but slows

• Population numbers increase causing the need for more complex relationships and systems to support them

Example of some early houses

Neolithic or Agricultural Transition• Shift from food gathering to food producing• Result is people begin to settle in one place• Cities develop• Surplus begins• Impact is complex societies or civilizations that have trade

networks and are interconnected • Neolithic Revolution is the basis for more complex societies to

be formed– Sedentary– Surplus– Diverse economic activity– Division of labor

• Gender roles begin to change and become less equal– Need for complex record keeping

• Writing systems– Pictographic (drew pictures to represent physical aspects)– Ideographs (drew pictures to represent abstract)– Phonographs (drew symbols to represent sounds)– Alphabet and writing systems

Civilization or complex societies• When do we know it is a “civilization” or matches

other complex societies and is no longer Neolithic and able to sustain itself over generations.– It may adapt/evolve over many generations

• Rates of adaptation are influenced by geography, type of culture, and creation of technology

• 5-6 elements of Civilization– Division of labor– Advanced technology– System of Writing– Calendar– Cities with Government or system of control– Usually some element within culture of philosophy that

holds them together and explains the forces of nature

What does the transition impact• What causes the impact?

– Ability to control environment• Slash and burn techniques • Irrigation

• People stop roaming and build villages first then cities as population grew and methods developed

• Impact is “civilization”• Subsistence to surplus• Trade networks within area creates relationship with the cities and

culture groups creating empires• Empires and areas connect through trade exchanging technology and

goods that assist in overcoming environment and cause adaptation rate to increase– Also causes more conflict

• Luxury items traded longer distances– You can track these items to see who traded with who

Spontaneous or Indepentent Discovery and Invention

• Were ideas at certain times connected or arose because there was an a need at approximately the same time because of climate change or great shifts in populations?