The Three Stone Age Eras

Inspire Education

10 Feb 202103:25

Summary

TLDRThe Stone Age is divided into three periods: Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic. The Paleolithic began with humans using flint for tools, living nomadically, and hunting wild horses and deer. The Mesolithic saw a warmer climate, with hunter-gatherers focusing on deer and wild boar, and the development of new hunting tools. The Neolithic marked the shift to farming with domesticated animals, crop cultivation, and the construction of burial mounds and monuments. Individual burials became more common towards the end of this period.

Takeaways

🗺️ The Stone Age was divided into three periods: Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic.
🛠️ The Paleolithic period was marked by the use of stone tools, primarily flint, for hunting and making jewelry.
🏞️ During the Mesolithic, Britain's climate warmed, leading to the growth of forests and the emergence of rivers and lakes.
🐎 In the Mesolithic, hunting tools evolved to include harpoons and spears, and the prey shifted from large herds to deer and wild boar.
🌾 The Neolithic period saw a shift from hunting and gathering to farming, with the domestication of animals and cultivation of crops like wheat and barley.
🏡 Settlements became more permanent during the Neolithic, with the construction of long barrows and henges.
👥 People in the Paleolithic were nomadic, living in caves or temporary shelters.
🎣 The Mesolithic period saw an increase in fishing and fowling due to the abundance of fish and wild birds.
🏺 Pottery became a common possession as people settled down towards the end of the Mesolithic.
🪦 Burial practices evolved from communal to individual burials during the late Neolithic period.

Q & A

What are the three ages of the Stone Age?
-The three ages of the Stone Age are the Paleolithic (Old Stone Age), Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age), and Neolithic (New Stone Age).
What type of stone was commonly used during the Paleolithic age?
-Flint was the type of stone commonly used during the Paleolithic age as it could easily be shaped into sharp, pointed tools.
What materials other than stone were used to make tools and jewelry during the Paleolithic age?
-Bones, antlers, shells, amber, animal teeth, and mammoth ivory were also used to make tools and jewelry during the Paleolithic age.
How did people live during the Paleolithic age?
-People were nomadic during the Paleolithic age, moving around to hunt animals such as wild horses and red deer, and lived in caves or temporary shelters.
What significant changes occurred in the environment during the Mesolithic age?
-During the Mesolithic age, the climate in Britain grew warmer, forests and woodlands began to grow, and rivers and lakes appeared.
What new hunting tools were developed during the Mesolithic age?
-New hunting tools such as harpoons and spears, with small sharp pieces of flint attached to the end, were developed during the Mesolithic age.
How did the lifestyle of people change towards the end of the Mesolithic period?
-Towards the end of the Mesolithic period, people began to set up farms and villages, settling in one place rather than moving around.
What types of animals were commonly farmed during the Neolithic age?
-Pigs, sheep, goats, and cattle were common farmyard animals during the Neolithic age.
What crops were grown by farmers during the Neolithic age?
-Farmers grew wheat and barley during the Neolithic age.
What types of structures were built during the Neolithic period to bury the dead?
-During the Neolithic period, people began to build long barrows, which are mounds of earth with a ditch around them, to bury their dead.
How did burial practices change from the early to the late Neolithic period?
-Communal burials were normal during the early Neolithic period, but by the late Neolithic period, individual burials were becoming much more common.

Outlines

00:00

🌏 The Stone Age Periods

The Stone Age is divided into three distinct periods: the Paleolithic (Old Stone Age), Mesolithic (Middle Stone Age), and Neolithic (New Stone Age). The Paleolithic began with the use of stone tools, primarily flint, for hunting wild horses and red deer. People were nomadic, living in caves or temporary shelters, and many cave paintings date back to this era. The Mesolithic followed the last ice age, with Britain's climate becoming warmer, leading to the growth of forests and the appearance of rivers and lakes. Hunters began using new tools like harpoons and spears, and people started settling down, forming farms and villages. The Neolithic period saw a shift towards farming with the domestication of animals like pigs, sheep, goats, and cattle, and the cultivation of wheat and barley. People built long barrows for burials and constructed henges and stone circles. Individual burials became more common towards the end of this period.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Paleolithic

The Paleolithic, also known as the Old Stone Age, refers to the period when early humans began using stone tools. It is significant to the video's theme as it marks the beginning of human technological advancement and the shift from a nomadic lifestyle to settling in one place. The script mentions that during this time, people used flint and other materials to make sharp, pointed tools, and lived in caves or temporary shelters.

💡Mesolithic

The Mesolithic, or Middle Stone Age, is characterized by a warming climate following the last ice age. This period is crucial in the video's narrative as it shows the adaptation of humans to new environmental conditions. The script describes how forests and woodlands grew, leading to changes in the hunting patterns of humans, who began to use new tools like harpoons and spears, and how they started to settle down, forming farms and villages.

💡Neolithic

The Neolithic, or New Stone Age, is highlighted in the video as the period when farming became prevalent, leading to permanent settlements. This is a pivotal point as it signifies a major shift in human lifestyle from hunting and gathering to agriculture. The script details how forests were cleared for farming, and how common farmyard animals and crops like wheat and barley were during this time.

💡Flint

Flint is a type of stone that was easily shaped into tools during the Paleolithic period. It is a key material mentioned in the script, illustrating the technological capabilities of early humans. Flint's use in making sharp, pointed tools exemplifies the ingenuity of our ancestors in adapting to their environment and the resources available to them.

💡Nomadic

A nomadic lifestyle is characterized by moving from place to place with no fixed home. In the context of the video, it is associated with the Paleolithic period where people moved around hunting animals for food. This lifestyle is contrasted with the later Neolithic period where people settled in one place due to farming.

💡Settled

Settled refers to a lifestyle where people live in one place, often forming communities. The video uses this term to contrast with the nomadic lifestyle of the Paleolithic period. Settling down is a significant development as it allowed for the accumulation of possessions, such as pottery, and the establishment of farms and villages.

💡Hunting Tools

Hunting tools such as harpoons and spears are mentioned in the script as innovations that emerged during the Mesolithic period. These tools are indicative of the video's theme of human adaptation and technological progress. The development of hunting tools reflects the changing strategies humans employed to secure food as the environment and availability of prey changed.

💡Agriculture

Agriculture is the practice of cultivating plants and animals for food. The video emphasizes the shift to agriculture during the Neolithic period as a major turning point in human history. The script describes how this shift led to the domestication of animals and the cultivation of crops, which in turn necessitated clearing forests for farmland.

💡Long Barrows

Long Barrows are earthen mounds with a surrounding ditch, used during the Neolithic period for burying the dead. The script mentions them as evidence of the changing burial practices, moving from communal to individual burials. This change reflects a shift in social structure and beliefs about death and the afterlife.

💡Henges

Henges are circular structures, often with a ditch surrounding a bank, that date back to the Neolithic period. The script includes henges as part of the architectural developments of the time. They are significant as they represent the cultural and possibly religious practices of the people during this period.

💡Stone Circles

Stone circles, like those at Stonehenge, are another type of monument from the Neolithic period. The script mentions them in the context of the burial practices and the cultural significance of such structures. Stone circles are indicative of the engineering and artistic capabilities of the people during this era.

Highlights

The Stone Age is divided into three distinct periods: Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic.

The Paleolithic period marks the beginning of human use of stone tools.

Flint was a primary material for making sharp, pointed tools during the Paleolithic.

Bones, antlers, shells, amber, and mammoth ivory were also utilized for tool and jewelry making.

People were nomadic during the Paleolithic, hunting wild horses and red deer.

Cave paintings are a notable feature of the Paleolithic era.

The Mesolithic period followed the last ice age, with Britain's climate becoming warmer.

Forests and woodlands expanded, and fish and wild birds became more plentiful.

Reindeer and wild horses became less common, leading to a focus on deer and wild boar hunting.

New hunting tools such as harpoons and spears were developed during the Mesolithic.

Most people were hunter-gatherers in the Mesolithic, but farming and villages began to emerge.

The Neolithic period saw a shift towards farming with the domestication of animals like pigs, sheep, goats, and cattle.

Wheat and barley were cultivated during the Neolithic.

Long barrows and henges were constructed during the Neolithic for burial practices.

Stone circles date back to the Neolithic period.

Communal burials were common until the late Neolithic when individual burials became more prevalent.