Prehistoric Life: Paleolithic and Neolithic Eras
The first prehistoric humans: During the Paleolithic era, it was a time of great change due to the old ice age. Humans had to adapt to survive. They relied on gathering fruit, fishing, and hunting. They were primarily hunters of large predators such as bison, mammoths, and deer.
During this time, humans lived in caves and shelters for protection from the heat. They used materials like leather and clay to build their homes. They were nomads, constantly moving to find food, shelter, or escape dangers.
Homo erectus discovered fire. Later, Neanderthals learned to light fires. Fire was crucial for warmth, scaring away beasts, providing light, and especially for food preparation. Initially, tools were carved from stone or pebbles. Later, silex, a hard stone, was used. When broken, it created sharp edges, perfect for making tools like scrapers, spearheads, and drills. New materials like bone and antlers were also used to create hooks, harpoons, needles, and tools for throwing arrows far.
Early Beliefs and Rituals
Early humans sought to explain natural phenomena like life, death, the sun, and rain. This led to the creation of religious beliefs. They performed ceremonial rituals to influence nature. Around 80,000 years ago, Neanderthals began burying their dead with objects like tools and ornaments.
Art in the Paleolithic Era
Homo sapiens began painting on cave walls and carving. They depicted hand profiles, symbols, animals (bison, horses, deer, mammoths, rhinoceroses), and scenes of daily life. They left behind many pieces of art, including decorated tools, pendants, and small figurines like the Venus of Willendorf (Austria), made of stone or bone, often associated with fertility.
The Neolithic Revolution
About 10,000 years ago, in the Middle East, in an area bathed by the Tigris and Euphrates rivers called the Fertile Crescent, a new era began. This era, known as the Neolithic period, marked the beginning of agriculture. Neolithic men and women started planting seeds and growing crops. This was the dawn of agriculture.
New Tools and Techniques
Farming required new tools, such as sickles for cutting wheat and mills for grinding grain. A new technique emerged: polished stone. This led to the creation of sharper tools and axes for cutting trees. The development of ceramics was also significant, as was the use of textiles.
The Spread of Neolithic Life
From the Fertile Crescent, Neolithic techniques, tools, and new ways of life spread to Europe. Humans became sedentary and built villages on higher ground, near water sources, often protected by walls. Many of these settlements have been discovered. Ceramics were used for grain storage, and the textile industry developed. Villages engaged in trade with each other.