Ancient Civilizations Chapter 1 The First Civilizations Section 1 Early Humans
Early Humans
Cause
People during the prehistoric period
used stone to make tools and
weapons.
Effect
Historians call the prehistoric period
of human history the Stone Age.
During the Paleolithic period, people
hunted and gathered food.
The people were nomads who always
had to move to find more food.
Both plants and animals depend on
water.
The women stayed in a campsite that
was usually close to water while the
men hunted.
At first they found caves, but soon
they used animal hides.
If the weather was cold or stormy,
Paleolithic People needed protection.
Paleolithic people discovered fire and With fire, they had warmth, light,
how to control it.
protection, and the ability to cook
food.
Paleolithic people developed a
They could share knowledge and work
spoken language.
together.
After the last Ice Age, people began to Animals provided meat, milk, and
domesticate animals. This period is
wool. They also carried goods and
called the Mesolithic Age.
people.
Now, the animals also needed to eat.
The Mesolithic people learned to
plant seeds and grow their own food.
During the Neolithic Age, people
began to claim land, build villages
and stay in one place.
The Mesolithic people were nomads
who moved their animals from place
to place.
They could stay in one place rather
than always searching for food.
They added grains to their meat and
vegetable diets. They lived closer
together allowing diseases to spread.
They polluted their environments.