1. From Hunters to Gatherers Chapter 3
Ancient history
From Hunters to Gatherers
Chapter 3

2. Terms to know
Stone Age- 2 Million to 3,000 BCE; Period known for people making tools out of stone.
Paleolithic Age- “Old Stone Age” until 8,000 BCE defined by people hunting wild animals and gathering nuts, berries and other plants
Neolithic Age- “New Stone Age” starting in 8,000, people raised animals and crops for food; settled in one place
Domesticate- To train a wild animal to be useful to humans
Agriculture- The business of farming
Trade- The business of buying and selling or exchanging items.

3. Terms to Know cont. Sumerians: Ancient people who lived in Sumer.
Mesopotamia: Greek word meaning “land between two rivers” In modern-day Iraq.
Sumerians: Southern Mesopotamia. The site of the first large complex cities.
City-States: Small, independent countries, each with their own ruler and their own farmland.
Irrigation System: a way to supply land with water.
Sumerians: Ancient people who lived in Sumer.
Levee: A wall of Earth built to prevent a river from flooding its banks.

4. Paleolithic Age (Old Stone Age)
Began 2 million years ago and lasted until 8000 BCE
People hunted or gathered nuts, berries, and other plants
People were nomadic (moved from place to place)

5. Neolithic Age (New Stone Age)
Around 8000 B.C.E. some groups learned how to raise animals & crops for food
For first time, people settled down to live in one place

6. Creating a Stable Food Supply
Farmers learned how to grow crops and domesticate animals.
Domesticate – to train a wild animal to be useful to humans
Growing crops + domestication of animals = agriculture

7. Making Permanent Shelters
In Old Stone Age, people lived in caves or tent-like structures.
Homes in the New Stone Age were made of mud bricks, stones, & tree branches.

8. Making Permanent Shelters
Gave protection from harsh weather & wild animals
Cooking pits allowed for new ways to cook food
People could form larger communities

9. Establishing Communities
Towns & villages grew because of farming
People divided up the work to complete tasks quicker
Life was safer & more comfortable

10. Developing New Jobs
Besides farmers there were weavers, basket makers, toolmakers, & traders.
Focusing on one job allowed people to get better at their specific skill and depend on others to complete the other jobs.

11. Beginning to Trade
Another major change in Neolithic times was the growth of trade.
People traded to get resources they didn’t have in their own area.
Trade items included flint, obsidian (black glass), and ore (mineral mined for its valuable uses).

12. Trade Items Left – Flint Knives Above – Obsidian arrowhead
Below – Hematite

13. Importance of Trade
Trade allowed people to make use of more resources.
It brought people into contact with others from distant places.
It also helped spread ideas & knowledge throughout the ancient world.

14. Early Neolithic Settlements
Catal Hoyuk
Jarmo
Jericho
Early Neolithic Settlements

15. Chapter 4: The Rise of Sumerian City-States

16. Mesopotamia & Sumer
Mesopotamia – the land of hills & plains located between the Tigris & Euphrates Rivers
Sumer – the southern part of this land

17. Four Key Problems in this Area
Food shortages in the hills
Uncontrolled water supply
Problems in building & maintaining an irrigation system
Attacks by neighboring communities

18. Food Shortages
Farmers did not have enough land to grow food for the increasing number of people.
People moved out of the foothills to the southern plains to farm there.

19. Uncontrolled Water Supply
Farmers either had too little water or they had too much.
Farmers began to build irrigation systems.
- levees
- canals
- dams
- reservoirs

20. Problems in Maintaining an Irrigation System
Canals had to be cleaned regularly because they became clogged with silt.
Farmers had to work together to maintain their complex irrigation system. This led to larger communities.

21. Defending Attacks
As Sumerian cities grew, they fought over the right to use water.
Sumerians began to look for ways to protect their cities from invaders.
They built strong walls around their cities and dug moats to prevent enemies from attacking.