Human Life Throughout History
Paleolithic Era vs. Neolithic Era
Paleolithic Diet
Paleolithic man is commonly referred to as a hunter-gatherer. Living a nomadic lifestyle, humans generally hunted large animals in groups consisting anywhere from five to as many as 100 people. Hunts could take days, and the majority of their diet hinged on the success of the hunt. When meat was scarce, berries, grains, leaves, and plants helped bridge the gap between large meals.
Paleolithic Methods & Lifestyle
As previously noted, Man lived a Nomadic lifestyle, never settling in a single area and continuing to follow its source of food until they were done with it. They also found a way to exploit every resource they had in their respective geographic locations. Bone, wood, and stone were carved into simple tools such as the flint blade, harpoon, hand axe, and bow, most of which were used for hunting, food processing, and the skinning of their prey. Animal furs became coats, blankets, hats, and also a means of shelter... basically anything that could help keep warm in the generally colder climate of the Paleolithic Era.
Paleolithic Era vs. Neolithic Era: Compare and Contrast
The Paleolithic Era was much longer than the Neolithic; about 50,000-70,000 years longer. Nomads spent most of their time searching for a source of food and simply prolonging their lives, which made advancements in technology and society difficult to come by. The paleolithic man never settled in a single area for an extended period of time, unlike its descendants, the Neolithic man, who commonly developed agricultural settlements and focused on bettering their respective societies. Nomads gathered and hunted the majority of their food while the next generation, the neolithic people, tended to grow their own resources and rely primarily on farming.
Neolithic People
Around 12,000 years ago, new discoveries such as how to utilize fire, food processing, and the implementation of farming brought about a drastic change in the common lifestyle of the human race. The people of the New Stone Age began to settle in communities and drift away from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle. A focus on agriculture and growing one's own food saved time and effort and allotted for greater attention in other categories that helped advance their culture.
Agricultural Development and The Advancement of Culture
The Neolithic people used advanced farming techniques and even began to genetically develop their food. Ears of corn where genetically altered to become much larger to feed more people. The domestication of plants such as wheat, barley, corn, and fruits and vegetables provided them with a much more balanced and nutritious all around diet. The domestication of animals to do work for humans also allowed work to become more efficient, easier, and less time consuming. The extra time they had was applied to bettering their overall way of life. The earliest systems of bartering, basic economics, advanced languages, and simple governments came about. Obedience was encouraged and the early signs of "modern" human life can be acknowledged and attributed to the discoveries and innovations of the individuals from the New Stone Age.
Conclusion: Final Compare and Contrast
The Neolithic Revolution was much shorter than the Paleolithic Era; about 50,000 years shorter to be precise. The people of this era generally farmed for their food and began to rely on individualism to accomplish tasks. Hunting wasn't as prioritized as it was previously, and food was healthier and easier to come by. Technological improvements were in great numbers and the improvement of life was rapid. Neolithic people domesticated animals and developed systems of bartering and trade; much more advanced than their predecessors.