  Prehistory- period before writing was invented. Define Pre-History

Those who excavate or dig in areas where people live, finding artifacts and analyze them coming up with some conclusion about those people and how they lived.

Old Stone Age

Facts about the Paleolithic age- Artifacts have been found in East Africa, China, Southeast Asia, Europe, Middle East and America. They lived by fishing, hunting and gathering wild plants. They moved in search **Nomads** of food- **Nomads** they had no permanent shelters..

Four ice ages during this period. Sheets of ice called glaciers covered much of Northern America, Europe, and parts of Asia. At the end of the ice age, dramatic local climates changed around the world. What was once a lush green vegetation was now a desert. Plants were reorganized, animals were reorganized and people moved to adapt to the climate.

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  National Geographic - Beginning Of An Ice Age 

New stone age

People now began to farm and not hunt and gather food so much. Domesticated animals (tamed animals) Dogs, sheep, goats. Women farmed, men hunted. Agriculture developed. (Anthropologist believe it began in the Middle East and Africa.)

In this area they grew: Wheat, Barley and oats. Asia In Asia they grew: Rice and root crops (yams).

Small Villages began, property was now important. Technology began with the development of farms. New farming tools and skills were established. Weaving was invented for making cloth. Life in the Neolithic

The wheel replaced the wooden sled which made transportation easier. Animals were used in farming. Copper was the first metal used for weapons and tools. Later a harder metal, Bronze was used. Combing Tin and Copper to make bronze.

As villages were established, Religion was too. (Had to have an explanation for natural happenings. ) Polytheism. Early man believed in Polytheism.

Many cave paintings are believed to not be just designs or decoration but a religious ritual to insure a good hunt See page 11 in your textbook This painting is believed to be 15,000 years old. Subtle shading and earth tone. Tree of Life

Neolithic part I Neolithic part II

What does this picture tell you? Write a story about this picture.