Warm-up Why is the Neolithic Revolution considered a turning point? (Have your homework out on your desk, please!)

Civilizations

Changes from Neolithic Revolution Neolithic Revolution – what was it? Changed economic and social life of humans Shift from hunting and gathering to farming and herding Nomadic Settlements

No More Subsistence Agriculture Subsistence Agriculture – growing just enough food for you and your family to survive day to day How would subsistence agriculture prevent humans from making their lives better?

Economic changes What do farmers need in order to be successful? Irrigation – people began to draw water further away from rivers so settlements could become bigger Farmers became more successful, created a surplus of food – Food led to free time to make crafts (pottery, woven cloth), do things that weren’t necessary for survival People began to specialize in different jobs

Social changes Social classes began to develop Often connected to specialized jobs – Wealthy class, labor class

What is a civilization? A civilization is a complex culture of people living together A civilization has these 5 characteristics: – 1. Advanced cities – 2. Specialized workers – 3. Complex institutions – 4. Record keeping – 5. Improved technology

Advanced Cities Not just a lot of people living together Center of trade for everyone living around it Goods and ideas exchanged – Cultural diffusion takes place here

Specialized Workers Instead of doing everything for themselves, workers focused on doing one thing really well for the whole community Artisans – skilled workers who specialize in handmade goods – How would a surplus of food allow for this to happen?

Complex Institutions Creation of religion, government, and economy – Leaders were chosen, rules were created for the civilization to live by – Why would having one government, religion, and economy be important for a civilization’s survival?

Record Keeping Writing systems Were initially created to document trades and collect taxes – Eventually religious documents and laws became written, as well Scribes – professional record keepers – Often the only people who knew how to write

Improved Technology Ability to apply knowledge to make daily life easier – Creating tools, for example Three big technological advancements – Ox-drawn plow – Irrigation system – Metal tools and weapons, instead of stone – The Bronze Age

Trade People who lived around villages came to exchange goods Barter system – no money involved, just trading goods – Also known as a traditional economy Sometimes scribes kept records of trades What’s the problem with a barter system?

Trade Activity In 5 groups, you will: – Barter with the other 4 groups to get the amount of goods you need – Each group needs: 500 lbs. of coal 600 lbs. of meat 120 gallons of fuel 50 loaves of bread 250 gallons of water 50 lbs. of steel

Trade activity All groups have a surplus of at least one good, and a shortage of another Your goal is to get the amount you need through barter One person in your group will act as a scribe and record the deals made with other groups