Neolithic

The Neolithic Age ...

The Neolithic or Neolithic describes that period in human history marked by the transition from a predominantly nomadic way of life to sedentarism and the concomitant construction of settlements. The Neolithic begins about ten thousand years ago and passes into the Bronze Age four thousand years before Christ's birth.

In the Neolithic period, there were significant changes in lifestyle and associated developments that are today summarized under the terms of the "Neolithic Revolution" or the "Neolithic Bundle". While the name Neolithic is used in Europe, this phase is referred to internationally as the New Stone Age. This name is due to the English anthropologist John Lubbock. He relied on the ability of people to grind stones and thereby transform them into different commodities.

Replica of Neolithic housing

The evolution of man in the Neolithic period:

With the emergence of Homo sapiens, which had a significantly larger brain volume than the early species of the genus Homo, the achievements of the people in the Neolithic developed rapidly. Homo sapiens of the late Middle and Early Neolithic times already resembled modern man in appearance and was endowed with an equally sophisticated religious, social and emotional sensibility. Funeral rites and burial mounds created especially for the deceased bear witness to a pronounced death cult. It is believed that even the Cro-Magnon man, as the first representative of Homo sapiens, if born into the world today, would learn the ability to behave like a modern man and learn our cultural habits.

Scientists now suspect that Homo sapiens was forced to adapt to his lifestyle due to major climatic changes. The cooling and temporary glaciation gradually led to a lack of food as many plants became extinct due to the low temperatures and many species that were important as food migrated or died out. The move to sedentary people did not occur in all regions at the same time, but started from Mesopotamia and gradually spread from there across Europe. Throughout the New Stone Age, there have been similar developments in human lifestyles in both Asia and much of Central America. With the founding of settlements, where not only clans but also larger groups of people lived together, Homo sapiens developed a social sensibility that resulted in speculation far beyond the usual Neanderthal cohesion within a family.

Nutrition of man in the Neolithic period:

In the Neolithic, man gradually gave up his hunter-gatherer lifestyle and acquired the skills to feed independently of nature and the seasons through agriculture and the domestication of wild animals. Neolithic man became a farmer who kept sheep, goats, and cattle, gaining not only access to meat but also milk. This opened up new nutritional possibilities and techniques for food preservation. At the same time, Neolithic people also developed opportunities to stock crops such as grains and legumes to provide food throughout the year.

Spelled, barley, einkorn and emmer are some of the crops that were cultivated in the Neolithic period. The crushing of the grains was carried out by the operation of rubbing stones, which was accompanied by a considerable physical effort. When the plow was invented during the Neolithic period, the field work was much faster and enabled significantly higher yields. However, daily life and agriculture have involved considerable effort, so people's life expectancy has been barely more than thirty years.

Domestication of the wolf In order to protect the livestock, the man in the Neolithic already had dogs that had evolved from the domesticated in the Middle Stone Age wolf. From the late Mesolithic finds of finds made of raffia made nets, fishing and remains of small boats. They are proof that fisheries have also been pursued in many regions, opening up new valuable sources of protein. The year-round wide range of different foods was accompanied by a significant increase in the population.

Accommodation and way of life:

The sedentary nature of the Neolithic essential necessitated the construction of permanent dwellings. These were first built from clay, later as log cabins and post huts. The first elongated four-walled houses built of stone also date back to the Neolithic period and provided sufficient protection against wind, moisture and cold. To create food supplies and to protect them from moisture, fungal infestation and pests, people made different vessels made of ceramic, which were decorated with ornate paintings. With regard to the Neolithic Revolution, the ability of Homo sapiens to develop new techniques and opportunities in a community and through the resulting lively exchange in order to constantly improve its direct environment is particularly important. He protected his settlements and villages from flooding by creating dams and ditches. Channel systems have been used to direct water directly from the springs to the fields to protect crops from dehydration and ensure a fruitful harvest. Fortifications with trenches and palisades provided protection against intruders.

The arts and crafts developed continuously and brought not only elaborate wood carvings and painted objects, but by the invention of the weaving frame and the spindle also made of fabric garments. Livestock husbandry gave access to new tissues such as sheep's wool and goatskins, which were also used to make clothing. The constant pursuit of better living conditions led Homo sapiens to engage in lively trade and exchange with people from other villages and small states. This not only brought him into contact with new foods and practical everyday objects, but also with innovative ideas and cultural practices.

Summary

The Neolithic (Neolithic) describes a section of human history and lasted about 10,000 BC. To 4,000 BC Chr.

Man became increasingly sedentary in the Neolithic, having lived as a hunter-gatherer millennia before. He raised crops, kept livestock, made supplies and lived in small settlements with other people.

Domestication of wildlife has allowed humans to keep animals as a means of transport, food source, or other hunting support (including cat, chicken, donkey, dog, horse, camel, etc.).