Lesson 2 - The Stone Ages - continued
Neolithic Era – Second part of the New Stone Age
Neolithic come from the Latin root ‘Neo’ meaning new. The Neolithic Era starts at about 8000 B.C.E. until about 3500 B.C.E., roughly 4000 years. When looking at the complete timeline, changes are starting to come at a much faster rate, but again, there are more people now. There are more of those people who are thinking “Wouldn’t this be easier if…..” which brings about more advances.
Like in the previous eras, all advances help make it easier for Oog’s group to meet the basic necessities for survival. It is during this era that hunters learn how to grind and polish tool edges to sharper points. With less jagged edges spear, arrow and harpoon tips more easily penetrate skin and hides. Think of it this way…. If you drag a butter knife across your arm chances are you will not get hurt; but do it with a steak knife and you may be headed to the emergency room for stitches.
Neolithic come from the Latin root ‘Neo’ meaning new. The Neolithic Era starts at about 8000 B.C.E. until about 3500 B.C.E., roughly 4000 years. When looking at the complete timeline, changes are starting to come at a much faster rate, but again, there are more people now. There are more of those people who are thinking “Wouldn’t this be easier if…..” which brings about more advances.
Like in the previous eras, all advances help make it easier for Oog’s group to meet the basic necessities for survival. It is during this era that hunters learn how to grind and polish tool edges to sharper points. With less jagged edges spear, arrow and harpoon tips more easily penetrate skin and hides. Think of it this way…. If you drag a butter knife across your arm chances are you will not get hurt; but do it with a steak knife and you may be headed to the emergency room for stitches.
Probably the most important change we see during this era is what is referred to as the Agricultural Revolution. While men were out busy trying to bring meat home for the group to eat, the women were managing the camp. Women and children were tending to chores like gathering other food supplies. Because the women were primarily the gatherers, and men the hunters, it is likely that it was a woman who figured out that a plant, during the end of its life cycle give off seeds that can be planted to grow our own food. This change from hunter-gatherers to farming allows many groups to abandon their nomadic lifestyles, create permanent settlements while still meeting their needs. Just like humans and other animals, plants need water so groups will mainly settle around rivers that run year round. These rivers also attract various animals all year long as they come to drink which again, makes it easier get meat to put on the table. Point to note, there will still be groups that remain nomadic.
Another big advancement is the domestication of animals (multiple species). Again, keep in mind this is NOT so Oog has a family pet. These animals are used for work or for food. Once Oog’s group realizes there are certain kinds of animals that are content to live in a pen if provided with adequate food, it makes hunting a LOT easier. Instead of heading off to the hills to get food for dinner, you just have to head to the backyard. Domestication will help more groups realize that they don’t constantly have to be moving around, but can settle down in one spot. Oxen will be used to pull plows that allow Oog’s father to farm more land in the same amount of time. Animal waste will be used as fertilizer to help replenish the vitamins and minerals in the soil to help boost crop harvest. Specialized tools will be developed to help perform a specific task like hoes, shovels and plows.
Learn more about the history of domestication (read and take notes on pages 3-8).
Write a reflection in your notebook about what kinds of characteristics would make an animal suitable for domestication. |
As Oog’s group finds a spot to settle down in, it now becomes apparent that the time and effort to build stronger, more durable structures to live in are worth the effort. More permanent shelters offer better protections against the elements. Since Oog’s group is not always packing up and moving on, life is considerably easier on the body. With renewable consistent food sources everyone in Oog’s group has plenty to eat.
The biggest result of an easier life and plenty of food is increased health of all in the group. People live longer, babies have a better chance of survival, and population grows. We call this the food-population cycle.
The biggest result of an easier life and plenty of food is increased health of all in the group. People live longer, babies have a better chance of survival, and population grows. We call this the food-population cycle.
Larger population comes with its own set of issues. With more people, more land needs to be cleared for farming, more buildings needs to be built to house them, the group needs more supplies to survive. As mentioned earlier, someone needs to be in charge. Some groups will have a single leader, others will have a council of elders to make the decisions that affect the group and settle disputes between people, our first courts.
As more items are invented and modified and as new plants and animals are being grown and domesticated, there needs to be a way to reference them. As a result, groups start to develop more complete spoken languages.
Religions, although still simple and not structured, were based upon nature, with the belief that Gods (polytheistic) control the forces of nature. In order to increase the chance of favorable weather, you would have to find some way to keep the Gods happy.
As more items are invented and modified and as new plants and animals are being grown and domesticated, there needs to be a way to reference them. As a result, groups start to develop more complete spoken languages.
Religions, although still simple and not structured, were based upon nature, with the belief that Gods (polytheistic) control the forces of nature. In order to increase the chance of favorable weather, you would have to find some way to keep the Gods happy.
The invention of the wheel and the use of sails will greatly improve transportation. Previously goods and belongings had been pulled along the ground on sleds which limits the amount (weight) that can be moved. However, lift the sled up, fasten a wheel on each side, you can greatly increase the ease in which it takes to move your load over a longer distance and transport more.
The sail allowed the early people to harness the power of the wind and make traveling long distances easier as well as traveling up stream.
The sail allowed the early people to harness the power of the wind and make traveling long distances easier as well as traveling up stream.
During this era we will start to see metals being used to create stronger and more durable specialized tools and weapons. Copper will be one of the first metals to be used as it occurs naturally. Tin will be added to copper which will create Bronze (Bronze Age) which will be an even stronger more durable metal. The stronger the material, the longer it lasts, the more efficient it is. There were no Wal-marts. If you broke your shovel, you had to stop what you were doing to fix or build a new one. You couldn't just go buy a new one.
Other advances were the use of nets for fishing, use of pottery for cooking and storage, and the use of wool to make cloth and better fitting clothes.
All of these changes will alter the way people live and survive. As early people start to see the benefit of applying technology to various aspects of their lives, they will strive in look at other ways they can make life easier and technological advances will continue to come faster and faster.
Cautionary Note: By 3000 B.C.E. all of these inventions and items are in use in some part of the world, BUT NOT ALL. Different groups are progressing at their own pace. The wheel was invented many times over by many different groups. It did not just appear on everyone’s doorstep one morning because someone across the globe figured it out.
Other advances were the use of nets for fishing, use of pottery for cooking and storage, and the use of wool to make cloth and better fitting clothes.
All of these changes will alter the way people live and survive. As early people start to see the benefit of applying technology to various aspects of their lives, they will strive in look at other ways they can make life easier and technological advances will continue to come faster and faster.
Cautionary Note: By 3000 B.C.E. all of these inventions and items are in use in some part of the world, BUT NOT ALL. Different groups are progressing at their own pace. The wheel was invented many times over by many different groups. It did not just appear on everyone’s doorstep one morning because someone across the globe figured it out.
In your class notebook, write a concise list of the characteristics of the Neolithic Era.
Assignment: Based upon your reading, draw a picture, or visual representation of a person from each of the Stone Age eras. Make sure to label necessary parts to show you understand the evolution of advances and the tools or weapons they may have used.
Assignment: Based upon your reading, draw a picture, or visual representation of a person from each of the Stone Age eras. Make sure to label necessary parts to show you understand the evolution of advances and the tools or weapons they may have used.
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