Early people lived differently than we do today. Early people lived by water (usually a river) because they had to have a fresh water source. These rivers were located in warm climates because people needed to stay warm. Early people hunted for food. They hunted animals and plants to eat. For that reason, they were called hunter-gatherers. Early people made simple tools. They used their surroundings to make them - like from rocks or bones. Finally, early people also traded with others for what they needed to survive. These people were often called primitive or prehistoric man.