Paleolithic Age (Old Stone Age) Moon-Brumley World History

Paleolithic Age - c. 2,500,000 - 10,000 B.C.E. Period characterized by the use of stone tools. Paleolithic people were hunter-gatherers of wild nuts, fruit, grains and plants, and hunted bison, reindeer, mammoths, horses, etc. Paleolithic people were nomads, following animals and vegetation cycles.

Society These nomads lived in small groups of 20 to 30. Both men and women were responsible for finding food. Men hunted and women gathered nuts, fruits and grains. Since both men and women played important roles in the group’s survival, women at this time had more social equality than they would later in history.

Technology Later Paleolithic Age is characterized by the creation of more sophisticated stone tools made of flint.

Hand axes were the most common tool Hand axes were the most common tool. The stone axes were set into wooden handles. By attaching wooden poles to stone spear points, and hardening the tips in fire, humans created spears to kill large animals.

Changes and Development – Cause and Effect Paleolithic people originally lived in caves. Later they began building shelters of wood or sticks covered in animal skins. If wood wasn’t available, they used large animal bones. When Paleolithic man learned to make fire, it led to migrations into colder climates. Fire was used for warmth and to scare away wild animals. Food could now be cooked making it easier to digest.

The last Ice Age (100,00 B. C. E. – 8,000B. C. E The last Ice Age (100,00 B.C.E. – 8,000B.C.E.) posed a serious threat to human survival. Thick sheets of ice covered much of Europe, Asia and North America. The ability to make and use of fire for warmth was critical to survival.

Culture Paleolithic people created art. They made large cave paintings of animals, such as lions, oxen panthers, deer, etc. The paintings were done in underground caves where there was no light.

Artists used stone lamps filled with animal fat to make light. They crushed mineral ores and mixed them with animal fat to make paints. Artists painted in yellow, brown, red and black.

Paleolithic artists painted with their fingers, crushed twigs, primitive animal hair brushes, or blew paint through thin hollow reeds. Many paintings show very realistic animals. They are beautifully drawn. There are few humans in these paintings, and when they are shown, they are very crude and primitive figures. Historians believe these paintings were part of religious rituals performed to ensure good hunting.