You already know that during the Paleolithic Age, early humans were nomadic. In contrast, about 12,000 years ago, people discovered how to produce their own food. This marked the Neolithic Era, and a dramatic shift in the way people lived. In fact, technological and social developments during this time period gave rise to sedentary communities and eventually cities. Although these developments spread slowly at first, the changes that occurred during the Neolithic Era were far-reaching and very important. As distant to us as 10,000 B.C. (B.C.E.) seems, it was an era filled with great change.

Essential Questions

• What characterizes the Neolithic Era?
• What evidence of Neolithic settlements exists?

 

Warm-Up

Reflect on your knowledge of the early humans you learned about in the Paleolithic Era. List three innovations you believe could have improved life for people during this time period. Then, as you delve into content for this topic, take note of the innovations developed during the Neolithic Era, and determine if any innovations you listed were actually part of this historical period.