The Neolithic Revolution and Early Agricultural Societies http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0393317552.03.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

Farming: The Biggest Mistake??? Food production = Hard Work! It often led to: poorer health shorter lifespan harder labor for the majority of people Societies do not develop agriculture unless there is a strong push toward that direction (necessity, hospitable environment and species, etc.) So Why Did People Switch From Hunting and Gathering To Farming?

Paleolithic Era The Pre-Farming Era Definition: the time before people started doing agriculture 2 million BCE – about 10,000 BCE Literal Meaning: “Old Stone Age” – use of stone tools

Life of Paleolithic Humans Hunting and Gathering economies (began to change around 10,000 BCE) Human population = low (1 mile of land supported 2 people) Women and men = relatively equal (women’s gathering brought in more calories; mystery of bearing life) Humans developed cultures and beliefs (art, burials, religious ideas) Populated EVERY continent by about 18,000 BCE

The Neolithic Revolution What is this? Where did it happen? When did it happen? WHY did it happen?

Neolithic Era After 10,000 BCE What? “Agricultural Revolution” = domestication of plants & animals Literal Meaning: New Stone Age The first permanent human settlements emerged Still used stone tools Pottery appears Catal – Hyuk: A stone-age village in modern Turkey

Where? “Fertile Crescent” (modern day Iraq) Tigris and Euphrates Rivers The area around these rivers is known to history as Mesopotamia End of Last Ice Age Warming Climate Wild grasses abundant ~Wild Grasses closest to domesticated varieties

Why Mesopotamia First? BL=Undomesticated wheat, BR=Change corn (Easier and faster to domesticate wheat than corn)

How did Agriculture Develop? Availability of calories determines how people get food End of ice age  Plants thriving Humans began “helping” plants along and selecting for traits, to increase calories gathered Certain plants were abundant and provided many calories=Humans actively chose these Wheat Discussion Point: Main crop growing around town? Why is that? Less plant diversity discussion.

Where & When? Location Dates (B.C.E) Plants Animals Southwest Asia (Fertile Crescent) 9000-7000 Barley, wheat, lentils, figs Goats, sheep, cattle, pigs China 6500-5000 Rice, millet, soybeans Pigs, chickens, water buffalo Saharan and Sub-Saharan Africa 3000-2000 Sorghum, millet, yams, teff Cattle (perhaps 8000 B.C.E) Highland New Guinea 7000-4000 Taro, bananas, yams, sugarcane Andes region Potatoes, quinoa, manioc Llamas, alpaca, guinea pig Mesoamerica Maize, squash (perhaps 7000 B.C.E), beans Turkey Eastern woodlands of North America 2000-1000 Sunflower, goosefoot, sumpweed Guided notes: Include blank map for location of progress

What else is needed for a Neolithic Revolution? Animal Domestication – what is it? An animal will breed where and when we want it to and often. It will come to us for food. It is not aggressive. Examples?

Important Domesticated Animals Horse Cow Pig Sheep Goat Chicken Ox Indian Elephant All from Eurasia

What was in the Americas. Only the guinea pig, turkey, and… llamasong What was in the Americas? Only the guinea pig, turkey, and… llamasong.flv

So What? What does the Neolithic Revolution allow?: A sedentary lifestyle The need for cooperation and group effort Job specialization Social Hierarchies (Social classes) Patriarchy (Rule by males) Population Growth Why do these occur?

Results for Agricultural Society Now that you have possessions, what do you have to do? Kings- to direct Militaries – to protect Priests – to protect and record (BUREAUCRATS) Scribes and writing – to protect and keep accounts Artisans- make storage vessels (pottery)

Did Everyone Switch? NO! Who Didn’t? Why Not?

River Valley Civilizations: Called that for a reason! Yes due to ability to irrigate

Eurasian Steppe (grasslands) Yes, abundant grass leads to pastoralism

African Savannah Degradation of grasslands through pastoralism

Inuit Lands Fatty animals fishing

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