How Did Civilization Differ From Ancient Civilization

From the Stone Age to Civilization
The Paleolithic era or the “Old Stone Age” was defined by early humans that used stone tools in their everyday lives. This age was followed by the Neolithic age, which was marked by technological advancements. Following this period, humans began to form the first early civilizations. There are similarities between the Paleolithic Era and the era of “civilization.” Tools, for example, played a significant role in everyday life for people of both eras, providing an easier way of life. These tools could be used for things such as skinning hides and hunting. However, the Paleolithic Era and the era of civilization differed in several ways. The most noteworthy changes occurred in social structures, including social
In the Paleolithic age, people were hunters and gatherers. In another excerpt from Nisa’s interview, she recalls the way in which her family ate and collected food: “We collected food, ground it in a mortar, and ate it” (Strayer [49]). However, the emergence of agricultural practices led to the Agricultural Revolution. This included domestication of plants and animals as well as breeding. The Agricultural Revolution gave way to the agriculture that was commonly seen in civilizations. While early farmers used tools such as digging sticks or hoes, animal drawn plows were now common, among other kinds of more aggressive agriculture. Animals were also used now for their milk and people had to figure out how to store it. In turn, the increase of production led to population growth. As much as the Agricultural Revolution contributed to civilizations agriculture, it was altogether much different than the early ways of hunting and gathering
Two of the most noteworthy positive changes occurred in agriculture and trade. With the creation of plow-based tools, farmers were more easily able to grow crops. This resulted in a surplus of goods and growth in population. Along with the surplus of items came trade. Now that people had extra things to give away, they began to exchange for commodities that were not native to their geography. Nonetheless, there were also negative consequences of civilizations. These were most frequently prominent in social structures. Women and lower class or poor citizens often suffered at the hands of social hierarchies. As areas grew and people such as kings and rulers became more powerful, the lower class was expected to provide for their superiors. Women were also increasingly looked down upon and expected to submit to men, rather than seen as equals as before. With the increased productivity of agriculture, larger populations could be supported and therefore, women were frequently pregnant and required to stay home. Overall, life for humankind improved, although, women and lower class citizens experienced a loss of status among their