The Neolithic Age, also known as the New Stone Age, refers to the time period when humans began to settle in one place and engage in agriculture rather than hunting and gathering. The spelling of Neolithic is /niːəˈlɪθɪk/, with the stress on the second syllable. The "eo" in Neolithic is pronounced as a long "ee" sound, while the "th" is pronounced as a voiceless "th" as in "thin." The "i" in the final syllable is pronounced with a short "ih" sound.
The Neolithic Age refers to a period in human history that represents a significant shift in human lifestyle and technological advancements. Derived from the Greek words "neo," meaning new, and "lithos," meaning stone, it is commonly known as the "New Stone Age." This era is characterized by the transition from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to settled agriculture and the development of more complex societies.
During the Neolithic Age, which emerged around 10,000 BCE and lasted until approximately 2,000 BCE, there was a remarkable progress in human civilization. One of the most notable developments was the domestication of plants and animals, such as wheat, barley, pigs, sheep, and cattle. This shift from a nomadic lifestyle to settled farming communities had a significant impact on human societies, leading to the establishment of permanent settlements and the development of agriculture as the primary means of subsistence.
Moreover, the Neolithic Age witnessed advancements in pottery-making techniques, weaving, and the invention of more advanced tools, such as the polished stone axe. These technological innovations greatly improved human productivity and allowed for the construction of more substantial and durable structures.
The Neolithic Age is also characterized by the emergence of social complexity, as settlements grew in size and became more organized. These communities developed more elaborate social hierarchies and often exhibited specialized labor roles. Additionally, the burial practices during this period indicate the belief in an afterlife and the beginning of religious and spiritual practices.
Overall, the Neolithic Age represents a pivotal period in human history marked by the profound transformation of human society, the development of agriculture, technological advancements, and the emergence of more complex social structures.
The word "Neolithic" is derived from the Greek words "neo" meaning "new" and "lithos" meaning "stone". The term was coined in the 19th century by Christian Jürgensen Thomsen, a Danish archaeologist and curator at the National Museum of Denmark, as part of his Three Age System for categorizing prehistoric periods. Thomsen divided human history into three stages: the Stone Age (including the Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic), the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age. The "Neolithic Age" refers to the period of human history when tools and weapons were predominantly made of polished stone, rather than the earlier era of rough-hewn or chipped stone tools in the Paleolithic Age.