THE NEOLITHIC REVOLUTION Discovery of agriculture and cattle raising:10,000 years ago in the Middle East. Productive economy. First cultivated species were cereals: wheat in Middle East and Europe, rice in asia, corn in America. First domesticated animals: horses, dogs, goats, sheep,oxen. They became sedentary and built villages, generally next to rivers. Specialisation of work.

Neolithic: new stone tools They started using polished stone to make utensils. Wooden handles were added to the tools

Two important technical innovations: fabrics and pottery Specialised tools: hoes,sickles, hand mills.

THE NEOLITHIC ARTIST Human figure became very important in paintings and scenes began to be represented. Figures were very schematic. Caves in the East of Spain. Ceramic pieces were decorated with printed lines, shells, etc.

THE METAL AGE 7,000 years ago human beings began to make objects of metal. Copper was the first metal used but it was not very resistent. Later they used bronze and iron. They made weapons, jewels, tools, statues.

5,000 years ago, in the Middle East, three inventions: The wheel The sail The plough The search of raw materials to make new tools trade activities

THE BIRTH OF THE FIRST CITIES Agriculture +cattle raising + new techniques improved living conditions ( more wealth) population grew villages became cities Cities were encircled by walls, houses were small,made of adobe or stone, ceilings made of straw, there were also shops and workshops.

MEGALITHIC MONUMENTS In the last years of the Neolithic Age and during the Metal Age monuments were made with big blocks of stone. The main were: Menhirs Dolmens Stone circles ( cromlech) Religious or burial function