Neolithic period

Definition

The Neolithic period, also known as the New Stone Age, was a significant era in human history when people transitioned from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to settled agricultural communities. It is characterized by the development of agriculture and domestication of plants and animals.

Related terms

Paleolithic period: The Paleolithic period, or Old Stone Age, refers to the time when humans were primarily hunter-gatherers, relying on hunting wild animals and gathering edible plants for survival.

Domestication: The process by which wild plants or animals are tamed or cultivated through selective breeding over generations to better suit human needs.

Sedentism: The practice of living in permanent settlements instead of being nomadic. Sedentism became possible with the advent of agriculture during the Neolithic period.