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Living in the Stone Age
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“Lithos” = stone Paleolithic Age Greek “paleo” = “old”
Paleolithic age was 3,000,000+ – BCE Neolithic Age Greek “neo” = “new” Neolithic Revolution occurred between 9000 – 4000 BCE
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Comparing the Stone Ages
NEOLITHIC People abandoned semi-nomadic life & began farming Agricultural revolution was a progression of the “Great Leap Forward” planting of crops domesticating of animals Better tools & weapons PALEOLITHIC People lived in small groups of 5-10 families Nomadic to semi-nomadic (hunting & gathering) Close relationships between bands of people ie. Cro-Magnon society
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Social Structure: Paleolithic Age
Beginning: closer social relationships arranged marriages with other bands bartering for raw materials Stratification = leadership & social classes age, gender, experiences Roles: MEN big game hunters WOMEN small game gatherers (approx % of diet ~ roots, potatoes, fruits, berries) made clothing from animal hides nurtured children
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Social Structure: Neolithic Age
knowledge of plants & animals = 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
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Social Structure: Neolithic Age…
Shift from semi-nomadic to the building of permanent towns & cities 1st city was Jericho, in Mesopotamia between 8000 – 7000 BCE
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Social Structure: Neolithic Age…
Trade ~ barter system (crucial factor in the origin of cities) obsidian ~ a volcanic glass one of the most valued/traded materials (tools, weapons, art) ~ would be traded for farm produce Development of hierarchical class system Domestication of animals (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs) More occupations emerged with more permanent cities & towns
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Religion & Art in Paleolithic Age
1st to develop fine art as drawings Over 100 European caves showcase CAVE PAINTINGS deer, horses & animals which are now extinct Beginnings of cultural explosion in art tools, pendants, jewellery & sculptures/ figurines of clay, ivory & stone More advanced spiritual practices emerged graves were found containing beads, ivory jewellery & spears made of mammoth tusks buried with bodies = this suggests a ritual burial with a view of an afterlife
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Caves at Lascaux [lass co]
Lascaux Caves (south central France) art circa BCE used irregularities in cave walls to add a 3-D effect to figures Paintings portray an awe & reverence towards animals which shows that for the 1st time people were expressing religious beliefs (rituals related to hunting magic; sacrifices of animals)
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Weapons & Technology PALEOLITHIC
Better hunting strategies due to co-operation & 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 & arrow around BCE made hunting more easy NEOLITHIC More efficient farming tools & weapons (sickle made of flint blades & antler; axes, hoe, copper use) Domestication of animals to do manual work & the planting of crops freed people from the pursuit of food New time for leisure activities (art, music, sports, religion)
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Major Innovations of the Stone Age
More complex human societies (from semi-nomadic to permanent cities; domestication of animals; leisure time) Development of social hierarchies Development of alliances & cooperation Marriage customs Development of trade goods & routes Religious rituals Refined sense of artistic beauty
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ALL LEAD TO THE FIRST “CIVILIZATION”
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