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?