3.6 Beginning to Trade

​Another major change introduced in Neolithic times was the growth of trade. Paleolithic hunter-gatherers rarely traded with other groups. They were mostly concerned with the animals, plants, and other resources they found nearby. As people settled in towns and villages, trade became a more common activity.

​6. Beginning to Trade

Multiple Choice

What marked a major change in Neolithic times compared to the Paleolithic era?

• The decline of trade

• The start of agriculture

• The decrease in community sizes

• The growth of trade

Multiple Choice

Why was trade rare among Paleolithic hunter-gatherers?

• They did not produce any surplus to trade

• They were concerned only with local resources

• They had no means of transportation

• They were hostile towards other groups

​Usually, people trade to get resources they do not have in their own area. As Neolithic people became more skilled in their crafts, they wanted materials that would improve the strength and beauty of the things they made. Getting those resources became the job of traders.

Multiple Choice

Why did Neolithic communities require materials from outside their own area?

• They needed them to improve the strength and beauty of their products

• They lacked the skills to use local resources effectively

• External resources were considered more valuable

• Local resources were depleted due to overuse

Multiple Choice

How did the role of traders evolve during the Neolithic period?

• Traders took on the task of getting materials for survival

• Traders specialized in exchanging food resources exclusively

• Traders became responsible for getting resources for crafting

• Traders lost importance as communities became self-sufficient

​Traders often traveled hundreds of miles in search of these materials. They crossed mountains on foot, rode donkeys across deserts, and sailed the Mediterranean Sea on ships.

Multiple Choice

What did traders do to find materials that were not available locally?

• They waited for others to bring materials to them

• They traveled long distances, like crossing mountains and deserts

• They stayed close to their own villages and towns

• They only sailed across small lakes

​What kinds of things were traders looking for? Popular items included flint and obsidian. Obsidian is a black glass found at volcanic mountains. Craftspeople used it to make knife blades, arrowheads, and mirrors.

​​This hand ax is made from obsidian. Neolithic traders in the Mediterranean region prized this resource. It was found mostly in present-day Turkey.

flint stones

Neolithic flint dagger

obsidian hand axe

Multiple Choice

What were two popular items that Neolithic traders were searching for?

• Wool and cotton

• Flint and obsidian

• Gold and silver

• Silk and spices

Multiple Choice

What is obsidian and where can it be found?

• A type of wood found in forests

• A precious metal found in riverbeds

• A soft fabric made from animal fur

• A black glass found at volcanic mountains

Multiple Choice

For what purposes was obsidian used?

• Building houses and making furniture

• Making knife blades, arrowheads, and mirrors

• Crafting musical instruments

• Creating sculptures and monuments

People also traded for “beauty products” like shell ornaments and a red ore called hematite. Women rubbed hematite on their lips and cheeks to make them redder.

crushed hematite pigment

​Neolithic shell ornaments

​hematite ore

Multiple Choice

What was hematite used for by Neolithic people?

• To create a red dye for cloth

• As a healing stone for medical treatments

• To make their lips and cheeks redder

• To carve into utensils

Multiple Choice

Which of the following was considered a 'beauty product' in Neolithic times?

• Shell ornaments

• Leather sandals

• Wooden bowls

• Stone axes

​The growth of trade allowed people to make use of more resources. It also brought them into contact with people from distant places. These contacts helped spread ideas and knowledge throughout the ancient world.

Multiple Choice

What effect did the increase in trade have during the Neolithic era?

• It made people rely on resources found in their immediate surroundings

• It reduced interactions between distant groups of people

• It allowed access to more resources and spread ideas and knowledge

• It led to communities becoming more isolated