Chapter 1 Section 2: The Beginning of Agriculture

Main Idea The development of agriculture was a major turning point in human history and significantly changed the way in which many people lived. Objectives What new tools and technologies did early humans develop during the New Stone Age? How did early agriculture develop and spread? In what ways did the development of agriculture change Stone Age society?

The Neolithic Era - about 8000 BC to 3000 BC I. The New Stone Age The Neolithic Era - about 8000 BC to 3000 BC

Advances in tool making define Neolithic Era I. The New Stone Age Advances in tool making define Neolithic Era

I. The New Stone Age Old - Stones chipped to make points New - Polished stones to make points - Specialized tools Flint Knapping

II. Development of Agriculture Last Ice Age ended about 10,000 years ago; new animals and plants appeared

Prehistoric North American Animals

II. Development of Agriculture People learned to farm and became food producers - the Neolithic Revolution

II. Development of Agriculture They gathered wild grains and learned the connection between seeds and plants

II. Development of Agriculture Domestication – selective growing/breeding of plants/animals; the best traits were kept

II. Development of Agriculture First domesticated animals were probably dogs, followed by cattle, sheep, etc.

II. Development of Agriculture Domesticated plants and animals = reliable food source; large animals were put to work

III. Agriculture Changes Society Reliable food supply = world population increase The current World population is almost 7.6 billion people

III. Agriculture Changes Society Some people became nomadic pastoralists; others formed farming settlements Nomadic Mongol’s Camp

A. Early Farming Societies Settlements grew into villages and towns 5,000 year-old Neolithic village of Skara Brae, occupied from about 3180 BC to 2500 BC. It was discovered in 1850.

A. Early Farming Societies Improved agriculture needed fewer workers; artisans/craftsmen appeared; trade increased Early bronze age jars Eastern Europe 18th century B.C. Beads and Pendants

A. Early Farming Societies Social classes developed, based on wealth and authority; men gained dominance over women

A. Early Farming Societies Other changes: formalized religion, warfare over land/resources, diseases. Crop failure meant famine Stonehenge

Cattle pulled improved plows B. New Technologies Cattle pulled improved plows

B. New Technologies New tools to prepare grains, clay pottery, wool spun into yarn; c. 3000 BC - the Bronze Age began

C. Catal Huyuk c. 6000 BC - largest Neolithic village: covered 30 acres, had 5000 to 6000 people

D. Otzi the Iceman 1991 – hikers found a frozen 5300 year-old Neolithic man in Italy’s Alps

Otzi added great deal to information about Neolithic life D. Otzi the Iceman Otzi added great deal to information about Neolithic life Otzi the Iceman (also spelled Oetzi and known also as Frozen Fritz)