Key Terms from Early Human History

The early phase of the Stone Age, lasting about 2.5 million years, when primitive stone implements were used.

A period characterized by the use of metal tools and advanced agriculture.

The time when humans first began to write and record history.

A phase marked by the development of complex societies and urbanization.

A member of a people having no permanent home, and who travel from place to place to meet their basic needs.

A person who settles in one place and builds a community.

An individual who travels for leisure and tourism purposes.

A person who engages in agriculture and farming.

The practice of farming, including cultivation of the soil for the growing of crops and the rearing of animals to provide food, wool, and other products.

A method of industrial production involving the use of machinery and technology.

The study of ecosystems and the relationships between organisms and their environment.

A form of trade that involves the exchange of goods and services without the use of money.

Advancing use of tools to make work easier and faster.

A method of communication between people.

The study of ancient artifacts and their uses.

A form of entertainment involving electronic devices.

The transition from nomadic hunter-gatherer societies to settled agricultural communities, marking the beginning of farming.

A period characterized by the development of metal tools and weapons.

The era when humans first began to use fire for cooking and warmth.

The time when humans lived in caves and relied solely on foraging.

The process of taming wild plants and animals for human use, such as food, work, or companionship.

The act of breeding animals for competitive sports.

The method of growing plants in their natural habitat without human intervention.

The practice of hunting wild animals for food.

A long, cold period in Earth's history when giant sheets of ice, called ice sheets, cover large parts of the land, especially near the poles.

A warm period in Earth's history characterized by the melting of glaciers and rising sea levels.

A time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth and tropical forests were widespread.

A geological event that caused massive volcanic eruptions and climate change.

A member of a nomadic people who live mainly by hunting, fishing, and harvesting wild food.

A person who primarily engages in agriculture and farming.

An individual who collects and trades goods in a market economy.

A resident of a permanent settlement who relies on domesticated animals.

An object made or used by humans, typically an item of cultural or historical interest found at archaeological sites.

A natural object that has been altered by human activity.

A type of ancient currency used in trade.

A modern tool used for scientific research.