Early Man- Paleo, Neo, Mesolithic

Cave Paintings

Cave paintings (also known as "parietal art") are painted drawings on cave walls or ceilings, mainly of prehistoric origin, dated to some 40,000 years ago (around 38,000 B.C.E.) in Eurasia. The exact purpose of the Paleolithic cave paintings is not known.

Job Specialization

This practice means that workers in a community perform different tasks. This divides the work of a community into specific jobs and assigns these jobs to different individuals. This leads to greater proficiency as well as increases in efficiency and productivity.

Tribe

a group of people that includes many families and relatives who have the same language, customs, and beliefs

Nomad

a member of a group of people who move from place to place instead of living in one place all the time

Priest

a person who has the authority to lead or perform ceremonies in some religions (position of power)

Historian

a person who studies or writes about history

Settlement

a place where people have come to live and where few or no people lived before

Archaeologist

a scientist that deals with past human life and activities by studying the bones, tools, etc., of ancient people

Anthropologist

a scientist that studies human races, origins, societies, and cultures

Artifact

a simple object (such as a tool or weapon) that was made by people in the past

Village

a small town in the country

Social Hierarchy

a social system in which people are placed in a series of levels with different importance or status

Resources

a supply of something (such as food, metal,etc.) that someone has and can use when it is needed

Surplus

an amount (such as a water or food) that is more than the amount that is needed

Religion

an organized system of beliefs, ceremonies, and rules used to worship a god or a group of gods

Technology

development of tools, techniques and processes that made human life easier

Neolithic Era

of or relating to the time during the Stone Age when people used stone tools and began to grow crops, raise animals, and live together in large groups but did not read or write

Sedentary

staying or living in one place instead of moving to different places

Polytheism

the belief that there is more than one god

Hunter-Gatherer

the beliefs, customs, arts, etc., of a particular society, group, place, or time

Culture

the beliefs, customs, arts, language, food, clothing, etc., of a particular society, group, place, or time

Civilization

the condition that exists when people have developed effective ways of organizing a society and care about art, science, etc........well-organized and developed society

Prehistory

the period of time in the past before people could write : the time before history was written down. Events and traditions are passed down through story-telling.

Worship

to show respect and love for God or for a god especially by praying, having religious services, etc.

Domesticate

to tame a wild animal for labor use or food....to grow a plant for human use

Mesolithic Era

Of or relating to the cultural period of the Stone Age between the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods, marked by the appearance of small stone tools and weapons and by changes in the nature of settlements. noun. The Mesolithic Period. Also called Middle Stone Age .

Paleolithic Era

Of or relating to the time during the early Stone Age when people made rough tools and weapons out of stone. This period is marked by people living in small groups that constantly moved to find food.