The Neolithic Revolution

Pre-history Pre-history is a time before written records How can we study pre-history if there are no written records? Archaeological evidence

Early humans Earliest humans originated in East Africa, then migrated to Europe and Asia

Hominids in order of development Australopithecines Homo Habilis Homo Erectus Neanderthal Cro-Magnon

Paleolithic Age Paleolithic = Old Stone Age Paleolithic Age- time before 10,000 BCE Earth’s climate was very cold People adapted by inventing clothing and learning to build fire for warmth Humans used very simple tools made of stone Stone arrowheads for hunting Pots for cooking Baskets for gathering Language developed

Paleolithic Age Food came from hunting and gathering Hunting and fishing for meat, gathering berries, fruits, and wild plants Men hunted, women and children gathered

Paleolithic Age People were nomadic- moved around, following the movement of herds and ripening plants with no permanent home Lived in groups of 20-30 in caves and rocky overhangs Created records of their existence in pictures found on cave walls- animals they followed, etc.

What is a Revolution? A radical and pervasive change in society A sudden, complete or marked change in something The Neolithic Revolution is also called the Agricultural Revolution- what changed?

Setting the scene… 10,000 BCE (ish) Ice Age was ending Climate became more stable- longer growing period, dryer land Game became more scarce

Where it all began Agriculture developed over 2,000-3,000 years Occurred spontaneously Not all groups of people evolved into farming- some continued hunting and gathering, others herded Hunter/gatherers, herders, and farmers co-existed Agriculture first emerged in Southern Asia, China, and the Americas independently Then spread to Greece and Egypt

Neolithic Revolution Change from hunting/gathering to farming/herding Planting crops and domesticating animals Some domesticated animals in closed pens, others herded them to green pastures (pastoralism) Allowed for a surplus of food to accumulate Change from nomadic migration to settling in one area and building permanent homes Became sedentary- no longer had to chase food Villages become established

Types of Agriculture Dry farming Slash and burn Irrigation First kind of farming developed Dependent on amount of rainfall Slash and burn Clear forest/grassland (ash fertilized the ground) Clear, farm, harvest, leave Irrigation Used rivers to water fields- trenches, ditches, etc. Required lots of people and organization

Effects of the Neolithic Revolution Surplus of food Steady source of food increased surplus Led to: Improved health Longer human lifespan Population increase New technologies for farming-plows, metal working, etc.

Effects of the Neolithic Revolution Change in work patterns Division of labor-women take care of the home, men farm and take care of animals Status of women declines as patriarchal society develops Specialization Villages are established, turn into cities Led to the development of civilizations Trade and interaction between settlements Accumulation of possessions Led to class systems- social status based on abilities and wealth