1. • Eras can have definitive start and end points
(prehistory vs. history for example).
• Today we are learning about the “New Stone
Age” and “Old Stone Age.”
• What do you think is the distinction between
the two? When would it start and end? Who
do you think would have been around at the
time?
4. Paleolithic
• “Paleo” = old, “-lithic”= stone
• Begins 2.6 million years ago with advent of
stone tools
• Lasts until about 10,000 BCE
• Sometimes referred to as “Old Stone Age”
• Hominids + Homo Sapiens
5. “Lucy”
• Oldest, most intact
hominid ever found
• Approx. 3 million years
old
– Before stone tools!
• 3 ½ feet tall
• Australopithecus afarensis
(Lucy is much easier to
say!)
6. Neolithic
• “Neo” = new, “-lithic” = stone
• 10,000 BCE to about 2,000 BCE
• Called the “New Stone Age”
• Only Homo Sapiens live into this era
– Otzi
12. Government.
• Paleolithic
– Tribal/clan
– Ruled by elders or the powerful
– Matriarchal or patriarchal
• Neolithic
– Military and religious leaders
– Monarchy develops
– Less equality among the sexes
13. Economy
• Paleolithic
– No private property
– Limited trade
• Neolithic
– Concept of private property emerges
– Land, livestock and tools could now be “owned”
– Trade networks develop
14. Health
• Paleolithic
– Healthier diet of meat and wild plants
– Humans were taller and lived longer compared to
Neolithic people
• Neolithic
– Less nutritious diet of mostly grains
– People were shorter and had a lower life
expectancy
– New diseases emerge
– Women had more children
16. Food
• Paleolithic
– Hunters and Gatherers
– Meat, fish, berries
– Store only what they can carry
• Neolithic
– Grew crops such as corn, wheat, beans
– Storage for surplus
20. Homework
• Create a flyer that will persuade a human
living in 10,000 BCE to either switch to
agriculture from hunting and gathering or
switch from hunting and gathering to
agriculture. Include information from
today’s lesson!
• This should be colorful, factual, and
interesting!