FROM THE PALEOLITHIC TO THE
NEOLITHIC
Paleolithic Age
The Paleolithic age was the age of Homo sapiens
It has been divided into two periods: The Lower Paleolithic Age Upper Paleolithic Age
The Lower Paleolithic Age
The age began over 200 000 years ago In it, homo sapiens developed a variety of basic
stone tools There were the first documented tool markers During the lower paleolithic age, humans
learned to control fire, capturing it from lightening strikes and lava flows, and storing it as coals to light new fires. This enabled humans to live in colder climates and gave more security at night against beasts.
It was also at this time that humans developed a form of speech.
Upper Paleolithic Age
This age occurred from about 50 000 to 10 000 years ago
This was the age in which human societies began to develop.
Humans live a nomadic or semi-nomadic lifestyle, this we have learned from decorated graves.
The upper paleolithic gave birth to more effective hunting techniques, leading into the Great Leap Forward.
The Great Leap Forward occurred about 35 000 years ago during the Upper Paleolithic Age.
The two main aspects of this leap included what we now call the modern anatomy and innovative behaviour.
After the Leap, humans had bodies very similar to our own and possessed more advanced stone tools. Boats and the ability to sew with tools.
The bow and arrow allowed more efficient hunting around 20 000 years ago
Women remained the backbone of this new society as they were the ones who most often brought food back to camp, as the male hunters were not always successful
Trade and social gatherings became common
Art came into existence as humans painted cave walls and carved figurines for perhaps religious purposes.
The most important manifestation of the Great Leap Forward is now known as the Neolithic Revolution
Neolithic Revolution
It began around 9 000 years ago The Neolithic Revolution was
characterized by the use of new ground and polished stone tools, and the beginnings of farming.
At the same time as the beginning of the Neolithic period, the great ice age ended, freeing up large tracts of grassland that could provide food for more animals and therefore more people
The human population increased as people learned to control their food supply by domesticating animals and using their carcasses to produce leather, meat, cheese, and butter.
Agriculture also led to the invention of beer and mead.
By the end of the Neolithic Revolution copper tolls were coming into use and people were beginning to take on specialized roles. They could pursue art, war, government, writing etc
The Neolithic led towards civilisation because not everyone had to worry about survival all of the time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XD9ehC6MWo#t=27
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