Origins of Agriculture, Culture, & Civilization Vocab

Archeology: the scientific study of material remains (as fossil relics, artifacts, and monuments) of past human life and activities Culture: A person’s unique way of life Artifacts: human made objects Hominid: Humans and other creatures that walk upright on two leg Technology: Applying knowledge, tools, and inventions to meet a person’s needs

Paleolithic Age: Old Stone Age (roughly 2.5 million B.C. to 8000 B.C.) Neolithic Age: New Stone Age (roughly 8000 B.C. to 3000 B.C.)

Nomad: Highly mobile people who moved from place to place, foraging or searching, for new sources of food. Hunter-Gatherer: Nomadic groups whose food supply depends on hunting animals and collecting plant foods Domestication: taming of animals Slash and Burn Agriculture: Cut & burn a field to clear it – ashes are used as fertilizer.

Civilization: A complex culture with 5 characteristics: advanced cities, specialized workers, complex institutions, record keeping, & advanced technology. Specialization: the development of skills in a specific kind of work Artisan: skilled workers who make good by hand City-State: A city that functions much like an independent country