3.2 Creating a Stable Food Supply

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During the Paleolithic Age, people obtained food by hunting animals and gathering plants. They did not have a stable, or dependable, food supply. Wild plants and animals grew scarce when people stayed in one area for too long. Hunting was dangerous, and hunters were often injured or killed.

​2. Creating a Stable Food Supply

Multiple Choice

During the Paleolithic Age, how did people primarily obtain their food?

• farming and agriculture
• fishing and trapping
• buying and trading
• hunting and gathering

Multiple Choice

What was a challenge faced by Paleolithic people when they stayed in one area for too long?

• Overpopulation
• Wild plants and animals grew scarce

• Lack of social interaction
• Increased risk of disease

Multiple Choice

Was the food supply during the Paleolithic Age stable and dependable?

• Yes, it was always consistent and reliable

• It depended on the season and location

• Only during certain years when weather was favorable

• No, it was unpredictable and variable

Multiple Choice

What was a common risk associated with hunting during the Paleolithic Age?

• Being injured or killed

• Lack of knowledge about animal behavior
• Building too many tools

• Lack of suitable weapons

Gradually, people found ways to lessen their dependence on hunting and gathering. Instead of gathering wild plants, people discovered that they could plant seeds and harvest crops. Over time, farmers learned which seeds produced the most crops in the areas where they lived.

Multiple Choice

What did people do to reduce their reliance on hunting and gathering?

• They started trading with neighboring tribes

• They began planting seeds and harvesting crops

• They moved to areas with more abundant wild resources

• They developed advanced hunting techniques

Multiple Choice

Over time, what knowledge did farmers gain about the seeds they planted?

• Which seeds produced the most crops in their regions

• How to grind them into flour

• The ways to cook them most effectively

• The different colors of seeds available

Early farmers also learned how to domesticate animals, or to raise and use them for people's needs. They raised sheep, goats, and cattle for the meat. Goats and cattle also provided milk. Mules helped carry heavy loads and pull plows.

Multiple Choice

For what primary reason were sheep, goats, and cattle raised by early farmers?

• For their wool and fur

• For the meat

• For their ability to help in transportation

• For their skin to make clothes

Multiple Choice

Besides providing meat, what other benefit did goats and cattle offer to early farmers?

• They were used for transportation

• They provided eggs

• They provided milk

• They were trained to hunt

Multiple Choice

What role did mules play in the lives of early farmers?

• They were raised for their fur

• They were primarily used for riding

• They helped carry heavy loads and pull plows

• They guarded the farms from wild animals

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These two developments—the growing of crops and the domestication of animals—are called agriculture. The Neolithic Age began with the invention of agriculture. For the first time, people had some control over their food supply. Let's explore why this change was one of the most important advances in all of history.

Multiple Choice

What is the term used for the combined developments of growing crops and domesticating animals?

• agriculture
• hunting

• settlement

• trade

Multiple Choice

Which age began with the invention of agriculture?

• Neolithic Age
• Bronze Age
• Mesolithic Age

• Paleolithic Age

Multiple Choice

What significant change did agriculture bring about in the lives of people during the Neolithic Age?

• It led to the invention of the wheel

• It led to the discovery of fire

• It gave them a stable food supply for the first time

• It introduced the practice of nomadic lifestyles