Early Humans and the Neolithic Revolution

Neolithic Revolution

transition from hunting lifestyle to settled agriculture lifestyle

Domestication

adapting animals for human use

Ice Age

any period of time during which glaciers covered a large part of the earth's surface

Neanderthal

a human species which had heavy bones and moved slowly

Homo Erectus

a human species which was the first to move out of Africa

Homo Sapiens

the only surviving hominid; thin fingers and advanced brains

Nomadic lifestyle

A lifestyle in which people and communities followed the movements of animals

Bering Land Bridge

A land bridge between Siberia and Alaska that was exposed during the most recent Ice Age when the waters of the Bering Strait receded

glacier

A large mass of moving ice and snow on land

nomad

A member of a group that has no permanent home, wandering from place to place in search of food and water

evolution

Change in a kind of organism over time; process by which modern organisms have descended from ancient organisms.

bipedal

the ability to walk upright on two legs

hunter-gatherers

Nomadic groups whose food supply depends on hunting animals and collecting plant foods

Paleolithic

relating to the earliest period of the Stone Age; associated with the evolution of humans

civilization

the most advanced stage of human social and cultural development and organization

Old Stone Age

the era of prehistory that lasted from 2 million B.C. to about 9000 B.C.

New Stone Age

the final era of prehistory, which began about 9000 B.C.; also called the Neolithic Period

Fertile Crescent

an area of rich farmland in Southwest Asia where the first civilizations began

Stone Age

prehistoric period characterized by use of stone weapons since metal was not invented

Bronze Age

a period of human culture between the Stone Age and the Iron Age, characterized by the use of weapons and implements made of bronze

Iron Age

a period in where people across much of Europe, Asia and parts of Africa began making tools and weapons from iron and steel