Social Science . 7 DOMESTICATION AND HERDING OF AMIMALS: Domestication of animals began around 10,000 years ago, allowing humans to cultivate species like sheep, goats, cattle, and pigs for food, labor, and companionship. This process involved selecting animals with desirable traits, leading to more manageable and productive breeds. Herding, the organized management and movement of livestock, emerged as a critical practice in pastoral societies, enabling the sustainable use of grazing land and resources. Over time, domesticated animals became integral to agriculture and human survival, shaping the development of civilizations. AGRICULTURAL TANSITION: The agricultural transition, also known as the Neolithic Revolution, occurred around 10,000 years ago when human societies shifted from hunting and gathering to farming and settled life. This transition involved the domestication of plants and animals, leading to the development of agriculture. As a result, communities could produce surplus food, which supported population growth and the rise of complex societies. Permanent settlements, social stratification, and technological advancements, such as irrigation and plowing, emerged during this period, laying the foundation for modern civilizations. TOOLS THEY USED: Stone tools have been used throughout human history but are most closely associated with prehistoric cultures and in particular of the Stone Age. Stone tools may be made of either ground stone or knapped stone, the latter fashioned by a craftsman called a flintknapper. Stone has been used to make a wide variety of tools throughout history, including arrowheads, spearheads, hand axes, and querns. Knapped stone tools are nearly ubiquitous in pre-metal-using societies because they are easily manufactured, the tool stone raw material is usually plentiful, and they are easy to transport and sharpen. EXAMPLES: Hand Axes, Flake Tools, Choppers, Scrapers, Burin, Awls, Spears and Spear Points, Fire-making Tools, Bone Tools, Harpoons and Fishhooks.