Living in the Stone AgeLiving in the Stone Age

““Lithos” = stoneLithos” = stonePaleolithic AgePaleolithic Age Greek “paleo” means Greek “paleo” means

“old”“old” Upper Paleolithic age Upper Paleolithic age

was 50 000 – 10 000 was 50 000 – 10 000 years agoyears ago

Neolithic AgeNeolithic Age Greek “neo” means Greek “neo” means

“new”“new” Neolithic Revolution Neolithic Revolution

occurred between occurred between 9000 – 4000 BCE9000 – 4000 BCE

Comparing the Comparing the Stone AgesStone Ages

PALEOLITHICPALEOLITHIC People lived in small People lived in small

groups of 5-10 familiesgroups of 5-10 families Nomadic to semi-Nomadic to semi-

nomadic (hunting and nomadic (hunting and gathering)gathering)

Close relationships Close relationships between bands of peoplebetween bands of people

ie. Cro-Magnon societyie. Cro-Magnon society

NEOLITHICNEOLITHIC People abandoned semi-People abandoned semi-

nomadic life and began nomadic life and began farmingfarming

Agricultural revolution Agricultural revolution was a progression of the was a progression of the “Great Leap Forward”“Great Leap Forward”

planting of crops planting of crops domesticating of animalsdomesticating of animals Better tools & weaponsBetter tools & weapons

Social Structure: Social Structure: Paleolithic AgePaleolithic Age

Beginnings of closer social relationships (arranged Beginnings of closer social relationships (arranged marriages with other bands, bartering for raw marriages with other bands, bartering for raw materials)materials)

Beginning of Beginning of stratificationstratification== emergence of leadership emergence of leadership and beginning of social classes (age, gender, and beginning of social classes (age, gender, experiences)experiences)

men were big game hunters; women captured small men were big game hunters; women captured small gamegame

women & children were gatherers (approx. 60-70% of women & children were gatherers (approx. 60-70% of diet came from roots, potatoes, fruits, berries) diet came from roots, potatoes, fruits, berries)

Women made clothing from animal hides and nurtured Women made clothing from animal hides and nurtured childrenchildren

Social Structure: Social Structure: Neolithic AgeNeolithic Age

Increasing knowledge of plants and animals allowed more control Increasing knowledge of plants and animals allowed more control of food supplyof food supply

End of Ice Age brought a warmer, wetter climate which brought End of Ice Age brought a warmer, wetter climate which brought new wild grasses and grainsnew wild grasses and grains

As population grew, so did the competition for landAs population grew, so did the competition for land Shift from Shift from semi-nomadicsemi-nomadic to the building of to the building of permanent towns and permanent towns and

cities cities (first city was Jericho, in Mesopotamia between 8000 – 7000 (first city was Jericho, in Mesopotamia between 8000 – 7000 BCE)BCE)

Trade by barter system was a crucial factor in the origin of cities Trade by barter system was a crucial factor in the origin of cities ((obsidian obsidian – – a volcanic glassa volcanic glass was one of the most valued traded was one of the most valued traded materials (tools, weapons, art) would be traded for farm producematerials (tools, weapons, art) would be traded for farm produce

Development of hierarchical class systemDevelopment of hierarchical class system Domestication animals (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs)Domestication animals (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs) More occupations emerged with more permanent cities and townsMore occupations emerged with more permanent cities and towns

Religion & Art in Religion & Art in Paleolithic AgePaleolithic Age

The Paleolithic Age (Cro-Magnon) was the first to The Paleolithic Age (Cro-Magnon) was the first to develop fine art as drawingsdevelop fine art as drawings

Over 100 European caves showcase CAVE Over 100 European caves showcase CAVE PAINTINGS of deer, horses and animals which are PAINTINGS of deer, horses and animals which are now extinctnow extinct

Beginnings of cultural explosion in art as more tools, Beginnings of cultural explosion in art as more tools, pendants, jewellery, and sculptures/ figurines of clay, pendants, jewellery, and sculptures/ figurines of clay, ivory and stone emergedivory and stone emerged

More advanced spiritual practices emerged as graves More advanced spiritual practices emerged as graves were found containing beads, ivory jewellery and were found containing beads, ivory jewellery and spears made of mammoth tusks buried with bodies = spears made of mammoth tusks buried with bodies = this suggests a ritual burial with a view of an afterlifethis suggests a ritual burial with a view of an afterlife

Caves at Lascaux [lass co]Caves at Lascaux [lass co]

Painting at Lascaux Caves (south central France) found in 15 000 BCEPainting at Lascaux Caves (south central France) found in 15 000 BCE Painters used irregularities in cave walls to add a 3-D effect to figuresPainters used irregularities in cave walls to add a 3-D effect to figures Paintings portray an awe and reverence towards animals which shows that Paintings portray an awe and reverence towards animals which shows that

for the first time people were expressing religious beliefs (rituals related to for the first time people were expressing religious beliefs (rituals related to hunting magic; sacrifices of animals)hunting magic; sacrifices of animals)

Venus of WillendorfVenus of Willendorf

Small sculptures such as Small sculptures such as the the Venus of WillendorfVenus of Willendorf were common to the were common to the Paleolithic AgePaleolithic Age

Sculpture features Sculpture features exaggerated curves (large exaggerated curves (large breasts and wide hips) on breasts and wide hips) on female figure female figure

Venus figurines are Venus figurines are symbolic of the importance symbolic of the importance of fertility of a mother of fertility of a mother goddessgoddess

Weapons & TechnologyWeapons & Technology

PALEOLITHICPALEOLITHIC Better hunting strategies Better hunting strategies

due to co-operation and due to co-operation and more lethal weapons more lethal weapons

Better tools for skinning Better tools for skinning game, preparing food, game, preparing food, sewing clothessewing clothes

Cro-Magnons stored food Cro-Magnons stored food over winter showing more over winter showing more planningplanning

Invention of the bow and Invention of the bow and arrow around 20 000 BCE arrow around 20 000 BCE made hunting more easymade hunting more easy

NEOLITHICNEOLITHIC More efficient tools (sickle More efficient tools (sickle

made of flint blades and made of flint blades and antler; axes, hoe, copper antler; axes, hoe, copper use) which helped farm and use) which helped farm and make weapons and toolsmake weapons and tools

Domestication of animals to Domestication of animals to do manual work and the do manual work and the planting of crops freed planting of crops freed people from the pursuit of people from the pursuit of foodfood

New time for leisure New time for leisure activities (art, music, sports, activities (art, music, sports, religion)religion)

STONEHENGESTONEHENGE

Stonehenge is located on Salisbury Plain in EnglandStonehenge is located on Salisbury Plain in England Created 2800-1500 BCECreated 2800-1500 BCE Stonehenge is an example of a Neolithic megalith Stonehenge is an example of a Neolithic megalith

(megalith = Greek for “big stones”)(megalith = Greek for “big stones”) Exact purpose is unknown: religious rituals, Exact purpose is unknown: religious rituals,

agricultural markers or astronomical observatories?agricultural markers or astronomical observatories?

Mystery of StonehengeMystery of Stonehenge Stonehenge was built in 3 major stages Stonehenge was built in 3 major stages

over 1300 years (tribal people, Beaker over 1300 years (tribal people, Beaker people, Battle Axe folk people people, Battle Axe folk people

Megaliths stones approx. 45 t and Heel Megaliths stones approx. 45 t and Heel Stone is 31 tStone is 31 t

Great debate over the positioning of the Great debate over the positioning of the stones stones

stones reflect an understanding of stones reflect an understanding of astronomy and mathematics (positions astronomy and mathematics (positions reflect sunrise, eclipses of sun and moonreflect sunrise, eclipses of sun and moon

stones could be a religious ritual to sun or stones could be a religious ritual to sun or moon godsmoon gods

Others believe stones were built to show Others believe stones were built to show changing seasons for agriculturechanging seasons for agriculture

Major Innovations of the Major Innovations of the Stone AgeStone Age

More complex human societies (from semi-More complex human societies (from semi-nomadic to permanent cities; domestication of nomadic to permanent cities; domestication of animals; leisure time)animals; leisure time)

Development of social hierarchiesDevelopment of social hierarchies Development of alliances and cooperationDevelopment of alliances and cooperation Marriage customs Marriage customs Development of trade goods and routesDevelopment of trade goods and routes Religious rituals Religious rituals Refined sense of artistic beautyRefined sense of artistic beauty

ALL THESE ALL THESE LEAD TO THE LEAD TO THE

FIRST FIRST “CIVILIZATION“CIVILIZATION

””