PrehistoryPrehistory Human beings have always been interested in Human beings have always been interested in
learning about the past.learning about the past. We know that the first people lived more than We know that the first people lived more than
two million years ago in two million years ago in prehistoric prehistoric timestimes PrehistoryPrehistory is the time is the time beforebefore people invented people invented
writingwriting.. About 5,000 years ago people invented About 5,000 years ago people invented writingwriting
—this marked the —this marked the beginningbeginning of history of history
PalPaleolithic Periodeolithic Period
Old Stone AgeOld Stone Age (2,500,000 B.C.)(2,500,000 B.C.)
NomadsNomads Hunters and gatherersHunters and gatherers Simple stone tools and Simple stone tools and
weaponsweapons First spoken languagesFirst spoken languages Discovery of fireDiscovery of fire Cave paintingsCave paintings
Paleolithic (Old Stone Age)Paleolithic (Old Stone Age)
Humans were nomadicHumans were nomadic Hunters & GatherersHunters & Gatherers Temporary HousingTemporary Housing Lived in small groupsLived in small groups Life was short and harshLife was short and harsh Man makes tools of stone, boneMan makes tools of stone, bone
Why do you think housing was temporary?
Why do you think life was “short” and “harsh”?
NeoNeolithic Periodlithic Period
The New Stone AgeThe New Stone Age 10,000 BC.10,000 BC. Increase in populationIncrease in population Farming/AgricultureFarming/Agriculture Domestication of animalsDomestication of animals Calendar and new technology-use of metalCalendar and new technology-use of metal Personal possessionsPersonal possessions Village headmen and council of eldersVillage headmen and council of elders Farming along river valleys lead to food surplus.Farming along river valleys lead to food surplus.
This map shows the first major civilizations to develop in the world. What patterns do you see among them?
Look at the patterns among the civilizations. How can you explain why they have these factors in common? What geographic
factors might help civilizations develop?
Neolithic (New Stone Age)Neolithic (New Stone Age) adoption of adoption of agricultureagriculture (farming). (farming). development of development of potterypottery and metal and metal
toolstools Rise of differentiated occupationsRise of differentiated occupations Agriculture gave humans more Agriculture gave humans more
control over their food supply control over their food supply Permanent settlementsPermanent settlements Population grew because of Population grew because of surplussurplus
food.food. Invention of the wheelInvention of the wheel Communicable diseases become Communicable diseases become
commoncommon
What does “surplus” mean?
Why would having extra food cause populations to increase?
What does “differentiated” mean?
Why did people start doing different jobs? Why not just all farm and hunt?
Aspect of Life
Paleolithic Drawing of what daily life might look like
Neolithic “Agricultural Revolution” Drawing of what daily life might look like
Occupations
Food Supply
Population
Settlement
Resources
Technology
Shelter
Hunter-gatherers
Wild animals and plants
Small bands of isolated people. Little disease.
Temporary settlements
Wore animal skins. Very low tech stone & bone tools. Fire.Very little trading.
Temporary shelters made out of light weight materials.
Farmers, herders, priests, warriors, builders, metalworkers etc.
Crops & livestock Large groups of people with greater wealth. More diseases
Permanent settlements with high walls.
Wore cotton, wool, and silk clothes. Used obsidian and metal for tools. Used pottery, calendars, the wheel, & plows. Traded with other groups.
Permanent shelters made out of heavy materials.
OLD STONE AGE NEW STONE AGE
New Stone AgeNew Stone Age(Neolithic Period)(Neolithic Period)
Began about 10,000 B.C.)Began about 10,000 B.C.) Around 10,000 B.C., people Around 10,000 B.C., people
made made twotwo very important very important discoveries. discoveries.
They learned to They learned to plant plant seeds seeds to to growgrow food food
They also learned to They also learned to tametame animals—or animals—or domesticationdomestication..
These two discoveries These two discoveries allowed people to allowed people to staystay in in one one place place and to and to farmfarm..
Historians call this the Historians call this the Neolithic Agricultural Neolithic Agricultural RevolutionRevolution because it because it changedchanged the way people the way people lived.lived. Early Farmers
What TWO discoveries occurred during the Neolithic Agricultural
Revolution?
Why didn’t people have to move around like nomads after the
Neolithic Agricultural Revolution?