The Neolithic or New Stone Age was a time of great development for early humans. During the Neolithic Age, humans went from depending on hunting and gathering to being able to farm their own crops and breed and herd animals for their own use.
No one knows for sure how humans first learned to plant seeds to grow things. It was probably an accident. However it happened, it was very important. Once humans learned to grow things, they began to learn the best things to grow. Wheat, barley, and rice were important crops. They produced a large number of grains for each grain planted. This meant that early humans could save a small portion of their harvest to plant the next year and then use the rest for bread and other foods. Early humans also learned to grow vegetables, nuts, and other crops.
Eventually, the early humans also learned how to domesticate or tame animals. This was good because they could use tame animals for many things. Large animals were used for carrying things or people and for food and milk. Of course smaller animals were used for food and yes, also pets. Once dogs were domesticated, they were used to help hunt and to protect the villages.
As food supply began to grow, population also began to increase. People began to live longer too because they had more to eat, and they were not chasing mammoths around with a little stick and getting killed in the process.
The increase in food supply also allowed for other advances to take place. With fewer people needed to produce food, people began to do other jobs. This is called specialization of labor. People began to trade. They began to make things out of metals they found. They also began to make houses, pottery, and their clothes became more ornate.
As population increased, bad things happened too. When you have a bunch of people living together in a village, sooner or later you will have crime, land disputes, and other issues that have to be dealt with. This eventually led to the invention of government. Villages named a chief to oversee disputes and make fair decisions (hopefully). Later of course, government became much more complicated.
No one knows for sure how humans first learned to plant seeds to grow things. It was probably an accident. However it happened, it was very important. Once humans learned to grow things, they began to learn the best things to grow. Wheat, barley, and rice were important crops. They produced a large number of grains for each grain planted. This meant that early humans could save a small portion of their harvest to plant the next year and then use the rest for bread and other foods. Early humans also learned to grow vegetables, nuts, and other crops.
Eventually, the early humans also learned how to domesticate or tame animals. This was good because they could use tame animals for many things. Large animals were used for carrying things or people and for food and milk. Of course smaller animals were used for food and yes, also pets. Once dogs were domesticated, they were used to help hunt and to protect the villages.
As food supply began to grow, population also began to increase. People began to live longer too because they had more to eat, and they were not chasing mammoths around with a little stick and getting killed in the process.
The increase in food supply also allowed for other advances to take place. With fewer people needed to produce food, people began to do other jobs. This is called specialization of labor. People began to trade. They began to make things out of metals they found. They also began to make houses, pottery, and their clothes became more ornate.
As population increased, bad things happened too. When you have a bunch of people living together in a village, sooner or later you will have crime, land disputes, and other issues that have to be dealt with. This eventually led to the invention of government. Villages named a chief to oversee disputes and make fair decisions (hopefully). Later of course, government became much more complicated.
