1. Early Humans Paleolithic Era
Main Idea:
This section focuses on the nomadic hunter-gatherers of the Paleolithic era.

2. “Old” Stone Age (2.5 million yrs ago – 8,000 B.C.)
The Stone Age
Paleolithic =
“Old” Stone Age (2.5 million yrs ago – 8,000 B.C.)
Neolithic =
“New” Stone Age
(8,000 B.C. – 4,000 B.C.)
Started after the last “Ice Age” ended

3. Early Humans
Paleolithic people adapted to their environment and invented many tools to help them survive.
What kind of people search for artifacts, and study history???
Awesome people, that’s what kind…

4. Archaeologists hunt for evidence buried in the ground.
What is History?
History is the story of humans in the past, and historians are the people who study and write about humans of the past.
Archaeologists hunt for evidence buried in the ground.

6. Paleolithic Period = ~2.5 million years ago until around 8,000 B.C.
Early Humans
Paleolithic Times
The early period of human history is called the Stone Age.
The earliest part of the Stone Age is called the Paleolithic period.
Paleolithic people were nomads, traveling from place to place to hunt and search for food.
Paleolithic Period = ~2.5 million years ago until around 8,000 B.C.

7. Paleolithic Times
Paleolithic women cared for children and gathered berries, nuts, and grains.
Paleolithic men hunted animals using clubs, spears, traps, and bows and arrows.
Paleolithic people adapted to their environment.

8. Those in cold climates used caves for shelter.
Paleolithic Times
Those in warm climates wore little clothing and had little need for shelter.
Those in cold climates used caves for shelter.
Over time, they learned to create shelters from animal hides and wooden poles.

9. Paleolithic Times
Paleolithic people discovered fire, which kept them warm, lit the darkness, and cooked food.
Long periods of extreme cold are called the Ice Ages.
During the Ice Ages, thick sheets of ice covered parts of Europe, Asia, and North America.

11. Paleolithic Times
Paleolithic people developed spoken language and expressed themselves through art, which may have had religious meaning.
During this time, humans created tools such as spears and hand axes using stone called flint.

12. Paleolithic Era Review Questions
What is a nomad?
How did people survive (food & shelter) during the Paleolithic Era?
What kind of materials did the Paleolithic people make their tools from? Why do you think they chose those materials?
Why do you think Paleolithic cave paintings are important?
What are some reasons that the ability to make fire was so important to Paleolithic people?

13. “Old” Stone Age (2.5 million yrs ago – 8,000 B.C.)
The Stone Age
Paleolithic =
“Old” Stone Age (2.5 million yrs ago – 8,000 B.C.)
Neolithic =
“New” Stone Age
(8,000 B.C. – 4,000 B.C.)
Started after the last “Ice Age” ended