Owen Rosi Rosi

Mr. Tierney
World History
10/3/14
Human kind went through a lot of changes in its transition between the Paleolithic period
and Neolithic period. In the Paleolithic period, humans lived more primitive lifestyles, we hunted
and gathered for food and just began to use tools. While in the Neolithic period, the birth of
agriculture made our lifestyles more advanced. In the transition from Paleolithic to Neolithic,
there were lifestyles that changed and stayed the same. I believe that those changes were
necessary to the evolution of the human race.
Government and economics were never really conceived in the Paleolithic age. People
lived in nomadic tribal societies where the rulers were the elders. The men in the tribe would
be the hunters that would bring back the food for the people of their tribe, while the women in
the town would do all of the house work such as taking care of everyone and doing daily chores.
Eventually, the women started to plant crops instead of gathering resources to feed the people.
People started to rely more on the crops rather than hunting and gathering, thus began the
agricultural age. Populations skyrocketed in result of the increase of food, increasing the need
for rules and order; thus government was born. Neolithic cities had more complex government
systems that consisted of military and religious leaders. Additionally, hierarchical societies and
social classes arose. There were many changes in the government systems from Paleolithic
tribes to Neolithic civilizations; however, both eras had an impact on the evolution of the human
race.
Moving on, religion was an important part of daily life in both time periods, and there
were major changes from the Paleolithic era to the Neolithic era that affected the way people
lived their lives. Archeologists discovered buried dead with ritualistic art in early Paleolithic
towns that revealed that there was a belief in the afterlife. Also, cave paintings were discovered
that showed that people were spiritual with their surroundings. Religion became a lot more
significant in the Neolithic era. Polytheism and religious objects that people worshipped were
more common. The rise of religion from Paleolithic to Neolithic civilizations led to a greater
diversity in future religious beliefs, effecting the way we live in our world today.
Lastly, technology was essential to the advancement of communication, and innovation
of new ideas. During the Paleolithic era was the first use of man made tools, fire, language
systems, sewing (clothes), and building structures. The tools that the people used then are still
in use today. Today we recognize the first use of tools as one of the most important events in
human history. With the switch into the agricultural centered Neolithic period, many new
technologies emerged such as: irrigation, baskets, pots, baked mud structures, and the first use
of metals. The foundation of technologies in the Paleolithic era innovated what was made in the
Neolithic era, and that in the future.
To conclude, the human race went through major changes in its transition from the
Paleolithic era to the Neolithic era. The government, religion, and technological aspects of the
Paleolithic period to the Neolithic were fundamental to the evolution of future civilizations and to
the world.