NEOLITHIC PERIOD Meaning and
Definition
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The Neolithic period, also known as the New Stone Age, is a significant period in human history that marks the transition from a hunter-gatherer society to an agricultural one. It is characterized by the development of agriculture and the domestication of plants and animals, which led to settled communities and the establishment of permanent settlements.
The Neolithic period emerged around 10,000 BCE and lasted until approximately 4,000 BCE in different parts of the world. It represented a fundamental shift in human lifestyle and marked a turning point in human civilization. During this time, humans began to cultivate crops like wheat, barley, and rice, and domesticate animals such as sheep, goats, and cattle. This allowed for a more reliable and stable food supply, leading to population growth and the formation of villages and towns.
The Neolithic period is also characterized by the development of new technologies, such as pottery, weaving, and the use of polished stone tools. These advancements revolutionized human life, leading to increased specialization of labor, trade, and the development of more complex social structures.
The Neolithic period laid the foundation for later civilizations by providing the basis for agriculture and settled living. It marked a shift from nomadic lifestyles to sedentary communities and led to the formation of agricultural societies that eventually developed into the great civilizations of the ancient world.
Etymology of NEOLITHIC PERIOD
The word "neolithic" is derived from the Greek words "neo" meaning "new" and "lithos" meaning "stone". It was coined in the 19th century by the Danish archaeologist Christian Jürgensen Thomsen to describe the "New Stone Age". The Neolithic period refers to the time in human history, approximately 10,000 to 4,500 BCE, when early humans transitioned from nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyles to settled agricultural communities, using stone tools and developing agriculture.
