Paleolithic vs Neolithic Age Flashcards

Food Supply

• Neolithic people established stable food supplies through farming.
• Paleolithic people relied on unstable food sources as hunter-gatherers.

Jobs

• A variety of jobs emerged in the Neolithic age due to settled life.
• Paleolithic societies had limited roles focused solely on hunting and gathering.

Homes

• Neolithic communities built permanent homes and formed villages.
• Paleolithic groups utilized temporary shelters, moving frequently in search of food.

Trade and Resources

• Trade became significant in the Neolithic period, reflecting an organized economy.
• Paleolithic societies had minimal focus on trade or resource management.

Similarities

• Both periods involved strategies for securing food and water and fulfilling basic needs.
• Both cultures belonged to the Stone Age and consisted of human societies.

Paleolithic

• Considered the earliest part of the Stone Age, characterized by hunting and gathering.

Neolithic

• Marked a transformative period in human history, lasting around 4000 years; means "New Stone."

Nomads

• Nomadic groups regularly migrated for survival, following food sources.

Technology

• Paleolithic people used basic tools and methods for daily tasks.

Ice Ages

• Extended periods of extreme cold that influenced global ecosystems and human migrations.

Systematic Agriculture

• Involves organized food production on a regular schedule, beginning in the Neolithic period.

Domesticate

• The process of adapting animals to live with humans for mutual benefit.

Shrines

• Places of worship decorated with images of deities, often featuring statues symbolizing fertility.

Specialization

• Development of specific skills for particular occupations in Neolithic societies.

Bronze Age

• A later period where the use of bronze became prevalent for tools and weapons.

Monarchy

• Early governance model where power was inherited, establishing armies and law-making.

After the Ice Age

• Warmer temperatures led to settlements in fertile areas, with a transition from hunting to farming.

Real Change from Paleolithic to Neolithic Age

• Transition from hunting and gathering to systematic agriculture fundamentally altered lifestyles.

Agricultural Revolution

• Refers to significant advancements in farming techniques and settled life, considered pivotal in human history.

Southwest Asia

• The region where the first farming activities began.

First Farmed Crops

• Barley and wheat were among the earliest cultivated plants.

First Tamed Animals

• Swine, cattle, goats, and sheep were among the first domesticated species.

Farming Spread

• Farming practices extended to Southeastern Europe from Southwest Asia.

Central Africa

• Cultivation of root crops such as yams and fruit trees, including bananas.

China

• Millet became a staple food crop, alongside domesticated dogs and pigs.

Southeast Asia

• Rice emerged as an essential agricultural product.

Mexico and Central America

• Corn, squash, potatoes, and domesticated chickens and dogs were significant crops.

Major Communities

• The largest early communities were found in Southwest Asia.

Jericho

• Recognized as the oldest known community.

Catalhuyuk

• Featured roofs with accessible doors and shrines, supporting both farming and hunting lifestyles.

Religion

• The emergence of shrines and statues highlighted the growing importance of spirituality in Neolithic life.

Benefits of Settled Life

• Settled communities offered security, a steady food supply, and population growth, enabling trade and agricultural advancements.