Neolithic Age: Taking Control of Nature
New Stone Age Southwest Asia 8000 – 3000 BCE Specialized tools Domestication of Plants and Animals
Wild Goat Domesticated Goat
Development of Agriculture Warming trend ended the Ice age in 10,000 BCE People began to farm Grains began to spread throughout Southwest Asia Domestication – selective growing or breeding of plants and animals to make them more useful to humans.
How do you suspect agriculture changed society?
Case Study #1: Otzi the Iceman
Who is this Guy? Why is he important? Items Tool kit Six-foot longbow Deerskin case with 14 arrows Small dagger Copper ax Medicine bag
What have we learned from Otzi? Over 5,000 years ago Killed by an arrow to the back Knowledge of medicine Knowledge of acupuncture Semi-nomadic types of technology
Cast Study #2: Çatal Höyük
Çatal Höyük Turkish meaning, “fork mound” Large and well preserved Neolithic settlement 7500 to 5700 BCE
Homes Domestic buildings No public buildings Population: 5,000 to 8,000 honeycomb-like maze; no streets or paths Holes in the ceilings; ladders inside and out Plastered interior walls Figurines
Culture: Daily Life Egalitarian – no social class Little distinction between genders Wheat and barley sheep and goats
So, what does this all mean?