Chapter 1 and 2 Vocab Flashcards
Artifact
A human-made object, such as a tool, weapon, or piece of jewelry.
Culture
A people’s unique way of life, as shown by its tools, customs, arts, and ideas.
Hominid
A member of a biological group including human beings and related species that walk upright.
Paleolithic Age
A prehistoric period that lasted from about 2,500,000 to 8000 B.C., during which people made use of crude stone tools and weapons - also called the Old Stone Age.
Neolithic Age
A prehistoric period that began about 8000 B.C. and in some areas ended as early as 3000 B.C., during which people learned to polish stone tools, make pottery, grow crops, and raise animals - also called the New Stone Age.
Technology
The way in which people apply knowledge, tools, and inventions to meet their needs.
Homo Sapiens
The biological species to which modern human beings belong.
Nomad
A member of a group that has no permanent home, wandering from place to place in search of food and water.
Hunter-Gatherer
A member of a nomadic group whose food supply depends on hunting animals and collecting plant foods.
Neolithic Revolution
The major change in human life caused by the beginnings of farming - that is, by people’s shift from food gathering to food producing.
Slash and Burn Farming
A farming method in which people clear fields by cutting and burning trees and grasses, the ashes of which serve to fertilize the soil.
Domestication
The taming of animals for human use.
Civilization
A form of culture characterized by cities, specialized workers, complex institutions, record keeping, and advanced technology.
Specialization
The development of skills in a particular kind of work, such as trading or record keeping.
Artisan
A skilled worker, such as a weaver or a potter, who makes goods by hand.
