Neolithic Era Literally means “New Stone Age” Began roughly 9500 BC Began in the Middle East Mesopotamia Fertile Crescent Agriculture and Domesticated animals

Neolithic Era THINK PAIR SHARE Why do you think anthropologists believe this to be the most important development in human history??

Neolithic Era What a Neolithic village may have looked like.

Neolithic Revolution Revolutionary shift in Human Subsistence! No more hunting and gathering! Food became more abundant Populations began increasing Cities began to form More grains + more milk + more Wool + more meat = More people Able to survive!

Neolithic Era Small clusters of people became Villages Villages became cities. This is a vital step in the development of civilization Earliest cities were: Jericho, Catal Huyuk, Uruk, Eridu, Ur Civilizations began forming throughout the world Cultural Hearths

Civilizations What is a cultural hearth? Culture = the way of life a group of people follow Hearth = a vital and creative center

Civilizations Complex Culture 6 Characteristics of a Civilization Cities Governments Religion Social structures Writing Art

Civilizations Cities Government Religion Social Structure Writing Art Food becomes more abundant, people live closer to each other Government Regulate and organize human activity Religion Explain forces of nature and roles in the world Social Structure Based on economic power Writing Keep accurate records, creative expression Art Architects, painters and sculptors,

Mesopotamia Mesopotamian Civilization Three general areas Sumerians Assyria, Akkad, Sumer (pg. 15) Sumerians Creators of Mesopotamian civilization

Mesopotamia Civilization in the Fertile Crescent City States Between Tigris and Euphrates Rivers City States A state with political control over the surrounding countryside Eridu, Ur, Uruk

Mesopotamia Sumerians used mud bricks to build Temple They invented the Arch and the Dome Temple Most important building in the city Massive stepped tower Ziggurat Priests and Priestesses Temple on a Ziggurat

Mesopotamia Three Classes Nobles Commoners Slaves Royalty, Priests Farmers, Merchants, Fishermen, Craftspeople 90% of Sumerians were farmers Slaves Worked on Buildings

Mesopotamia Economy Principally agriculture Industry Trade Metalwork, textiles, etc. Trade Invention of wheel in 3000 B.C. helped