During prehistory, man lived on gathering, fishing and the product of his hunt. He most often lives in a tent made of animal skin or a hut made of branches. He sets out to hunt game, moving his dwelling according to the route of the animals. Prehistoric man was therefore nomadic, with no fixed habitation.
Some stones dating from this period are carved and archaeologists call this period of prehistory the Paleolithic, which in Greek means "ancient stone".
In -450,000 the Homo erectus discovers fire by accident (probably thanks to lightning) and gradually learns to master it.
Around 10,000 BC
Procedure
The discovery of tools made with polished stones dating from around -10,000 led archaeologists to name this new period the Neolithic, which means "new stone".
These tools were used for agriculture. It is through this that man experiences his first revolution. Thanks to a more clement climate and a better control of the grounds, the man obtains cultures. He tames then domesticates the animals and turns to breeding.
This development of agriculture and breeding pushes men to settle down, which leads to an unprecedented increase in demography. Man must therefore develop his cultivation techniques to increase the yield of his productions. He thus invented the wheel and the plow (an instrument for working the land) and used animals to plough. Also, the metal used to craft the tools is improved. Copper, considered too soft, becomes bronze by adding tin before iron is preferred.
The change in lifestyle is radical! Previously nomadic, man becomes sedentary. The tribe gathers around the same hearth, the hearth. A real society is created, with an organization, beliefs, a hierarchy, values. The houses are built in hard (wood, cob) and craftsmanship develops. The foodstuffs and the various riches having to be protected, walls were erected around the housing estates.
Consequences
The Neolithic brought about an unprecedented upheaval. From nomad, hunter-gatherer, he becomes sedentary. The man who was until then completely dependent on nature now takes precedence over the latter and dominates it little by little. The way of life is radically different from the previous era, which is why the Neolithic is undoubtedly the one of the greatest revolutions in our history. The Neolithic will end around 3300 BC with the appearance of writing in Mesopotamia.