prehistory science 5

2. Prehistory
the period of time in the past before
people could write
With the invention of writing,
official history begins

3. Prehistory starts with the appearance of the first
hominid, 4.5 million years ago, and finishes
with the invention of the writing, 3,500 years
b.C.
This long period can be divided into 3 stages:
- Paleolithic Age
- Neolithic Age
- Metal Age

4. PALEOLITHIC
PALEOLITHIC means
“old stone”.
It starts with the
appeareance of the
first hominids (4.5
million of years ago)
and ends with the
discovery of
agriculture (7,000
years b.C.)

5. During that time,
humans got their food
by hunting animals, by
fishing and by
collecting fruits, nuts,
other wild plant .
They were nomadic,
they travel from time
to time or with the
seasons to find food
and following the
animals.

6. They form small groups of 20 or 30 people called tribes. The
members of a tribe belong to the same family. They live up to
about 35 years because of a cold climate and common diseases.

7. They live in caves or huts made with sticks and the skin of the
animals

9. TOOLS
Men discovered that by
hitting rocks together,
they could make tools.

11. FIRE
Life changed a lot for the early
humans when they discovered
how to make fire.
Fire allowed them to cook food,
warm themselves and have
light.
Fire could also be used to cut
down trees and protect against
wild animals.

12. ART
Around 30,000 years ago
humans begin painting on
the walls of caves.
This shows an artistic
sensibility.

13. Characteristic of the art
They paint animals: horses,
deers, bisons, mammoth, etc.
Colours: brown, black, red and
yellow made from natural
materials.
Animal hair is used to make
brushes.
They believe that painting give
good luck in hunting

14. NEOLITHIC
The Neolithic Era
(New Stone Age)
begins 10,000 years
ago, when humans
invented agriculture
and livestock raising.
Neolithic people
learn how to plant
cereals and to farm
and domesticate
animals.

15. Neolithic people are not nomadic. They are sedentary. They
settle down in towns and build houses.

16. They begin to form villages around the fields they farm and
they learn how to make many new things like: jewelry,
pottery, bigger houses, better clothing, and stronger tools.

17. Once people begin
building houses and
living in towns life got
easier.
They divide up the
work

18. Trade begins during the
Neolithic Era.
Trade is buying and
selling/exchanging goods.

19. TOOLS
People use stone tools, but
they begin to be more
sophisticated, specialized, and
they are often polished to a
fine finish.
Pottery is made for the first
time during the Neolithic Age.
These pots are very simple.

20. ART
The human figure
becomes important in
Neolithic art, which often
paints scenes with groups
of people hunting,
farming or dancing.
Figures in these paintings
were very schematic.

21. PALEOLITHIC v.s. NEOLITHIC

22. METAL AGE
• The Age of Metals began when human beings to learn how to
use metals to make objects (5.000 years BC).
• First they use copper, then bronze and finally iron.

23. TOOLS AND
TECHNOLOGY
Metal tools are better
than stone tools.
They are stronger and
can be sharpened.
Metal is used for:
-Tools such as ploughs
and knives
-Weapons such as
swords.
-Jewlery such as
necklace.
plough
weapons
jewlery

24. FIRST CITIES
• Agriculture, livestock and the new technical advances,
improve peoples lives. Because of this, population increased.
Some villages become small cities with hundreds of
inhabitants.
• Cities are surrounded by walls, and inside there are buildings
with different functions: houses, stores, shops or workshops.