PREHISTORY
Characteristics of the Paleolithic
and Neolithic
defn: pre·his·tor·ic

before the
creation of
writing and/or
recorded
history
PALEOLITHIC
(Old Stone Age)
Nomads: lived in caves, dugouts,
or trees
 Hunter/Gatherers
 Kept fires going
 Bone tools and weapons
 Chipped stone
(flint or obsidian)

PALEOLITHIC
(cont.)
Used animal
skins for
warmth
 Developed club,
spear, and bola
 Primitive
religion

What two events
largely caused the
move from Paleolithic
to Neolithic?
ANSWER:
Development of agriculture
 Domestication of the animal

NEOLITHIC
(New Stone Age)
Developed
agriculture
 Widely used fire
 Large-irrigation
systems
 Domestication of
animals

NEOLITHIC (cont.)
Developed pottery, paints, & weaving
 Built houses & furniture
 Invented the wheel (in some areas)
 Made laws
 New tools: awls, wedges, saws, drills,
chisels, needles, etc.
 Developed a calendar

Interesting Fact:
Neolithic people in many parts of the world
independently developed agriculture.
So, where did man go
when he advanced from
the Stone Age?
RIVER VALLEYS