First, review the definitions of “Paleolithic” and “Neolithic” and the main features of each period in human history. Then reflect on how society changes when people go from hunting and gathering to agriculture. Then list one advantage and one disadvantage of how people lived in the Paleolithic and the Neolithic periods. In a concluding few sentences explain how we know the advantages/disadvantages you mentioned; are the sources human skeletons? Archaeology? Written descriptions?
Comparing The Paleolithic And Neolithic Eras
Full Answer Section
When people go from hunting and gathering to agriculture, there are a number of changes that occur in society. These changes include:
- Increased population: Agriculture allows people to produce more food, which leads to an increase in population.
- Settled societies: Agriculture requires people to stay in one place, which leads to the development of settled societies.
- Social stratification: Agriculture leads to the development of social stratification, as some people become wealthier and more powerful than others.
- Specialization: Agriculture allows people to specialize in different tasks, which leads to the development of a more complex society.
- Freedom: Paleolithic people were free to roam the land and hunt and gather as they pleased.
- Closeness to nature: Paleolithic people lived in close contact with nature, which gave them a deep understanding of the natural world.
- Simple lifestyle: Paleolithic people lived a simple lifestyle, which was free from the stresses of modern life.
- Short life expectancy: Paleolithic people had a short life expectancy, due to factors such as disease and violence.
- Limited food supply: Paleolithic people were dependent on the natural world for their food, which could be unreliable at times.
- Physical danger: Paleolithic people faced a number of physical dangers, such as wild animals and harsh weather conditions.
- Increased food supply: Agriculture provided a more reliable food supply than hunting and gathering, which led to an increase in population.
- Improved health: Agriculture led to an improvement in health, as people had a more stable food supply and were less likely to be exposed to disease.
- Increased leisure time: Agriculture freed up people's time, which allowed them to pursue other activities, such as art and crafts.
- Settled societies: Settled societies were more vulnerable to attack than nomadic societies.
- Social stratification: Social stratification led to inequality and the exploitation of the poor.
- Environmental degradation: Agriculture led to environmental degradation, as people cleared forests and drained wetlands to make way for farmland.
- Human skeletons: Human skeletons can provide information about the health and diet of people who lived in different periods.
- Archaeology: Archaeology can provide information about the tools, weapons, and other artifacts that people used in different periods.
- Written descriptions: Written descriptions from later periods can provide information about the lives of people who lived in earlier periods.
Sample Answer
here are the definitions of Paleolithic and Neolithic, along with the main features of each period in human history:
- Paleolithic (literally "old stone age"): The Paleolithic era is the earliest period of human history, beginning with the first use of stone tools around 2.5 million years ago and ending with the development of agriculture around 10,000 years ago. Paleolithic people were hunter-gatherers who lived in small, nomadic groups. They used simple stone tools and weapons, and they lived off the land by hunting, fishing, and gathering plants.
- Neolithic (literally "new stone age"): The Neolithic era is the period in human history that began with the development of agriculture around 10,000 years ago and ended with the development of metalworking around 5,000 years ago. Neolithic people were the first to domesticate animals and plants, and they lived in permanent settlements. They used more sophisticated stone tools and weapons, and they also began to develop pottery and other crafts.