Vocab
What does 'Prehistoric' mean?
Before written history.
Name one type of history detective.
Archaeologist, historian, or geographer.
An early human or human ancestor is called a _.
Hominin
What is a hunter-gatherer?
A person who survives by hunting animals and gathering wild plants for food.
Humans began taming these for food, labor, and other resources.
Animals.
What is an artifact?
An object made or used by people in the past.
What does an archaeologist study?
Artifacts and physical evidence from the past.
Give one important reason early humans learned to use fire.
cooking, warmth, protection, or light.
What type of art did Paleolithic people create on the walls of caves?
Cave paintings (cave art).
What is a food surplus?
Having more food than a community immediately needs.
What does domesticate mean?
To train a wild animal to be useful to humans.
These people study Earth’s physical features and how humans interact with their environment.
Geographers
TRUE or FALSE: All prehistoric people were farmers.
False
Why did Paleolithic humans often move from place to place?
To follow food sources/animals and find resources.
What major development started the Neolithic Revolution?
Agriculture/Farming.
What is agriculture?
Growing crops and raising animals.
Why are artifacts important?
They give evidence about how people lived.
What are two types of evidence archaeologists can use to learn about prehistoric people?
Artifacts, fossils, bones, tools, cave paintings, footprints, or remains of shelters.
Why would Paleolithic people need to understand their environment and the changing seasons?
To know where and when to find food, water, animals, and shelter.
Why did agriculture lead to permanent settlements?
People needed to stay near their crops and animals instead of constantly moving for food.
What is the difference between the Paleolithic and Neolithic Ages?
Paleolithic was the Old Stone Age; Neolithic was the New Stone Age and included farming and permanent settlements.
How can history detectives learn about people who left no written records?
By examining artifacts, remains, locations, and other evidence.
If prehistoric people did not leave written records, how can we learn about them today?
By studying artifacts, fossils, remains, cave art, tools, and other evidence.
Early humans cooperating in groups gave them what major survival advantage?
They could hunt, gather, protect one another, share resources, and survive more effectively.
How did farming allow people to develop specialized jobs?
Farming created food surpluses, so not everyone had to spend their time finding food. Some people could become builders, craftspeople, traders, or other workers.