The Birth of Farming Chapter 2, Section 1

Essential question: Why was the domestication of plants and animals important?

Out With the Old, In With the New Paleolithic age: “Old Stone Age” 2.5 million – 10,000 years ago Neolithic age: “New Stone Age” 10,000-3,000 years ago

Changing Earth Last Ice Age ended 12,000 years ago Temperatures rose Rainfall patterns changed Glaciers receded Sea levels rose

Neolithic Agricultural Revolution Revolution: a complete change in the ways of thinking, working, or living Hunting and gathering replaced by farming Nomadic people settled in areas near rivers or lakes Fertile soil, fresh water

Modifying the environment Humans change the land to meet their needs How Environment Was Changed How It Benefitted Humans Using tools and fire to clear trees and bushes Grasslands grew; attracted grazing animals such as deer Scattering seeds on ground New plants grew there next year

Domesticating Plants & Animals Domestication: to change the growth of plants or behavior of animals in ways that are beneficial to humans Domestication = Birth of farming

Examples of Domestication What was Domesticated How It Helped Early Humans Dogs Provided help with hunts, companionship, protection Horses and oxen Work animals Chicken, pigs, cattle Eggs, milk, meat Sheep and llamas Wool for clothing

Domesticating Plants Selecting certain seeds to produce better crops Quality = larger sized items (Ex. Tomatoes) Quantity = more of a crop (Ex. Field of wheat)

New Way of Life needs new tools Use Axe Cut down trees to make farmland Sickle Harvest grain crops

Stone tools replaced by metals Humans later developed new technologies and created better tools using metal instead of stone Different Periods Named for Materials Used Stone = Stone Age Bronze = Bronze Age Iron = Iron Age