Video Notes: Prehistory Vocabulary (Paleolithic to Neolithic)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key Paleolithic and Neolithic concepts from the given notes.

Paleolithic era

The early period of human history (about 3.3 million years ago to 10,000 B.C.E.) characterized by hunter-gatherer societies and stone tool use.

Hunter-Gatherer Society

A society that obtains food by hunting animals and gathering wild plants, rather than farming.

Nomad / Nomadism

A person or group that moves from place to place without a fixed settlement.

Stone tool technology

Early tools made of stone used for cutting, chopping, scraping, and other tasks.

Homo sapiens

Modern humans; known for advanced tools, language, and culture.

Migration

The movement of people from one region to another, often spreading across continents.

Out of Africa migration

The dispersal of Homo sapiens from Africa to other parts of the world.

Reasons for migration

Factors such as climate change, food resources, population growth, exploration, and geographic challenges.

Neolithic era

New Stone Age (roughly 10,000–3,000 B.C.E.) marked by farming and settled communities.

Agriculture

The practice of cultivating crops and raising animals for food.

Domestication

The process of breeding wild plants and animals for human use.

Animal husbandry

The breeding and raising of domesticated animals for human use.

Fertile Crescent

A region in the Middle East where farming and domestication began, including crops like wheat, barley, and lentils.

Çatalhöyük

A large Neolithic settlement in modern-day Turkey, notable for early village life and art.

Jericho

One of the oldest known cities, located on the West Bank; important early urban center.

Cave paintings

Paleolithic art found in caves, often depicting animals and symbolic scenes.

Portable art

Small, movable pieces of art such as beads and figurines carried by people.

Fire

Control of fire provided warmth, protection, and a way to cook food.

Carbon dating

A dating method that estimates the age of organic materials by measuring carbon-14 decay.

Settlement

A permanent place where people live, eventually forming villages.

Villages

Small, permanent communities that emerged with Neolithic farming.

Stonehenge

A prehistoric monument in England built in the late Neolithic to early Bronze Age, reflecting organized labor and ritual.