0. by L. Calvert @ CE Utt Middle School
Division of Labor
by L. CE Utt Middle School

1. and how is it necessary for civilization?
Essential Question:
What is
division of labor
and how is it necessary for civilization?

2. 1. How did the division of labor begin in Mesopotamia?
Once Mesopotamia produced enough food….not everyone had to be a farmer
Other types of occupations arose
(This is called division of labor)
Talk about surplus

3. 2. What types of jobs (other than farming) were created in Mesopotamia?
Ancient Mesopotamian pottery

4. 2. What types of jobs (other than farming) were created in Mesopotamia?
potter
herdsman (raise and sell animals and animal products)
tent maker
medal worker
scribe
trader
weaver
house builder
priest
artisan
boatman
Mesopotamia pottery, cuneiform tablet (scribe), Sumerian golden beer mug, jewelry from the royal tomb of Ur (metal working)

5. 3. What is the definition of division of labor?
An economic arrangement in which each worker specializes in a particular task or job.
(Specialized workers)
Mesopotamia cylinder seal: used to sign name because most people could not read or write

6. 4. Why do all civilizations have division of labor?

7. 4. Why do all civilizations have division of labor/specialized jobs?
Specialized labor is necessary for a civilization to exist
Once everyone has enough to eat, people can focus on improving their lives through new inventions. They have the time to invent new things… Bill Gates, etc…

8. 5. Name some specialized job categories in America.

9. 5. Name some specialized job categories in America.

11. Top 1% wage earners in the United States by occupation

13. 6. Today, what percent of U.S. workers are farmers?

14. 6. Today, what percent of U.S. workers are farmers?
less than 2% of the U.S. workers are farmers.

15. 7. What do our farmers produce today?

16. 7. USA Top 20 Farm Products (ranked in order of value with volume in metric tons)
1. Corn 256,900,000
2. Cattle meat 11,736,000
3. Cow's milk, 78,155,000
4. Chicken meat 15,006,000
5. Soybeans 65,800,000
6. Pig meat 8,574,000
7. Wheat 63,590,000
8. Cotton lint 3,968,000
9. Hen eggs 5,141,000
10. Turkey meat 2,584,000
11. Tomatoes 12,275,000
12. Potatoes 20,820,000
13. Grapes 6,126,000
14. Oranges 10,473,000
15. Rice, paddy 9,034,000
16. Apples 4,242,000
17. Sorghum 10,446,000
18. Lettuce 4,490,000
19. Cottonseed 6,073,000
20. Sugar beets 27,760,000

17. 7. USA Top 20 Farm Products (ranked in order of value with volume in metric tons)
11. Tomatoes 12,275,000
12. Potatoes 20,820,000
13. Grapes 6,126,000
14. Oranges 10,473,000
15. Rice, paddy 9,034,000
16. Apples 4,242,000
17. Sorghum 10,446,000
18. Lettuce 4,490,000
19. Cottonseed 6,073,000
20. Sugar beets 27,760,000

18. Fast Facts About Agriculture
2.2 million farms dot America’s rural landscape. About 97 percent of U.S. farms are operated by families – individuals, family partnerships or family corporations.
Farm and ranch families comprise just 2 percent of the U.S. population.
More than 21 million American workers (15 percent of the total U.S. workforce) produce, process and sell the nation’s food and fiber
Today’s farmers produce 262 percent more food with 2 percent fewer inputs (labor, seeds, feed, fertilizer, etc.), compared with 1950.
In 2010, $115 billion worth of American agricultural products were exported around the world. The United States sells more food and fiber to world markets than we import, creating a positive agricultural trade balance.
One in three U.S. farm acres is planted for export.
31 percent of U.S. gross farm income comes directly from exports.
About 23 percent of raw U.S. farm products are exported each year.
Farmers and ranchers receive only 16 cents out of every dollar spent on food at home and away from home. The rest goes for costs beyond the farm gate: wages and materials for production, processing, marketing, transportation and distribution. In 1980, farmers and ranchers received 31 cents.
U.S. farm programs typically cost each American just pennies per meal and account for less than one-half of 1 percent of the total U.S. budget.
Americans enjoy a food supply that abundant, affordable overall and among the world’s safest, thanks in large part to the efficiency and productivity of America’s farm and ranch families.

19. So once Mesopotamia produced a surplus of food…
People were able to concentrate on other things (than just feeding themselves)
New technologies were developed
Artisans created useful domestic items
People acquired more things
Bartering and trade began
This led to division of labor, or specialized labor

20. Summary: Division of labor is necessary for a civilization because…
civ·i·li·za·tion, sivələˈzāSHən/
Noun
1. the stage of human social development and organization that is considered most advanced.
2. the process by which a society or place reaches an advanced stage of social development and organization
synonyms: human development, advancement, progress, enlightenment, culture, refinement, sophistication
A civilization cannot exist without specialized labor/division of labor