Living in the Stone Age

Examining History: Prehistory PRE-HISTORY- period before written history Approximately 1.75 million years ago, earliest people first began using small pieces of rock as tools Massive development of humans over years in 4 major groups: 1) Homo Habilis (2 million years ago) 2) Homo Erectus (1 million years ago) 3) Neanderthal (100 000 years ago) 4) Cro-Magnon (50 000 years ago)

“Lithos” = stone Paleolithic Age Greek “paleo” means “old” Upper Paleolithic age was 50 000 – 10 000 years ago Neolithic Age Greek “neo” means “new” Neolithic Revolution occurred between 9000 – 4000 BCE

Comparing the Stone Ages NEOLITHIC People abandoned semi-nomadic life and began farming Agricultural revolution was a progression of the “Great Leap Forward” planting of crops domesticating of animals Better tools & weapons PALEOLITHIC small groups of 5-10 families Nomadic to semi-nomadic Closer relationships between bands of people ie. Cro-Magnon society Paleolithic- 1) People lived in small groups of 5-10 families 2) Nomadic to semi-nomadic (hunting and gathering) 3) close relationships between bands of people ie. Cro-Magnon society NEOLITHIC 1) People abandoned semi-nomadic life and began farming

Social Structure: Neolithic Age Increasing knowledge = more control of food supply End of Ice Age = better for agriculture As population grew, so did the competition for land Development of hierarchical class system Increasing knowledge of plants and animals allowed more control of food supply End of Ice Age brought a warmer, wetter climate which brought new wild grasses and grains As population grew, so did the competition for land Shift from semi-nomadic to the building of permanent towns and cities (first city was Jericho, in Mesopotamia between 8000 – 7000 BCE) Trade by barter system was a crucial factor in the origin of cities (obsidian – a volcanic glass was one of the most valued traded materials (tools, weapons, art) would be traded for farm produce Development of hierarchical class system Domestication animals (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs) More occupations emerged with more permanent cities and towns

Weapons & Technology NEOLITHIC efficient tools which helped farm and make weapons and tools Domestication of animals to do manual work and the planting of crops freed people from the pursuit of food leisure activities (art, music, sports, religion) PALEOLITHIC Better hunting strategies due to co-operation and more lethal weapons Better tools for skinning game, preparing food, sewing clothes Cro-Magnons stored food over winter showing more planning Invention of the bow and arrow around 20 000 BCE made hunting more easy NEOLITHIC More efficient tools (sickle made of flint blades and antler; axes, hoe, copper use) which helped farm and make weapons and tools Domestication of animals to do manual work and the planting of crops freed people from the pursuit of food New time for leisure activities (art, music, sports, religion)

STONEHENGE