Answer:
The term "Neolithic" refers to the period of human history from around 10,000 BCE until approximately 4,500 BCE, which is also known as the "New Stone Age". During this period, humans began to establish permanent settlements and engage in agriculture and animal domestication. These early societies laid the foundation for the development of civilization as we know it today.
The people of the Neolithic period established villages in areas with fertile soil and access to water, such as river valleys and coastal plains. These settlements allowed for the development of agriculture, which in turn supported larger populations and more complex social structures.
One of the key differences between the Neolithic period and the Paleolithic period that came before it was the development of agriculture. In the Paleolithic period, humans were primarily hunter-gatherers, relying on wild plants and animals for their survival. However, during the Neolithic period, humans began to domesticate plants and animals, which allowed for a more reliable and sustainable food supply. This led to the development of permanent settlements, as well as social and economic systems based on agriculture.
Overall, the Neolithic period was a time of significant change and innovation in human history, as humans began to move away from a nomadic, hunter-gatherer way of life and towards a more settled, agricultural way of life.