Chapter 1 Part 2 The Neolithic Revolution M-W PHS

Question What are some positive and negative effects of living in an agricultural society vs. hunter gathering? Neo = new Lithic = stone Neolithic means what? New Stone Age

Genographic Map

The Beginnings of Human “Civilization” Neolithic Revolution is known for the agricultural revolution. A revolutionary change in the development of the human experience.

The Beginnings of Human “History” Two key developments of the human experience (other than the emergence of the species) 1.development of agriculture 2.Industrial Revolution (late 1800’s)

“Invention” of Agriculture Fertile Crescent - Northern Middle East/Black Sea region earliest to adopt agriculture Wild animals grazed on grains including ancient wheat and barley. Human hunters “discover” tasty food grains.

Spread of animal and agricultural communities

“Invention” of Agriculture South China and S.E. Asia 7000 BCE - main grain crop is rice. Central America 5000 BCE - corn (maize).

Spread of Agriculture By 5000 BCE farming is THE most common “economic system” for the largest number of people in the world. Women played a key role because they were the primary gatherers of wild plant foods! They identified and cultivated only the largest and best plants

Reasons for slow spread of Ag. 1. Contact with others minimal. 2. Not all regions suitable/more work. 3. Hunting/gathering “traditional”/easier. 4. Involves “settling down”.

Social Changes from Agriculture 1. Redefines + increases work expectations of society - especially for men. 2. Redefines gender relations - women lose influence in society. Patriarchal system develops.

Patriarchal System A system where men influence “SPICE” of civilizations the most. “Patrilineal” means it’s the paternal (man’s) heritage that defines the society. There are a few matrilineal societies but they are rare!

Patriarchal System Reasons it catches on 1. Agriculture permitted and required an expansion of the birthrate- women stay home 2. Men became primary worker/cultivator of the crucial food supply outside of the home 3. Children put to work in fields early adapted to the system and saw it as “normal”. Idea of “wanting many sons” and obedience to father tended to follow this shift and become norms

Drawbacks of Agriculture 1.Created inequalities between men and women. 2.Clustered communities = easier spread of disease. 3.Damaged the environment - slash and burn agriculture, swidden agriculture.

Benefits of Agricultural Societies 1.Improved food supply and surplus = population growth. 2.Allowed more free time for people to develop and specialize in art, crafts and new ideas. 3.Invention of new food-based products due to fermentation like alcohol, yogurt, cheese 4.These conditions prevailed from 9000 BCE to 300 years ago!

Egyptian Brewery Sumerian Beer Recipe

Agricultural Society Structure 80% population work in fields. Limited tax revenue (food first “money”) 20% of population live in city. Farming generates cultural emphasis on spring season and divine natural forces. Surplus of food allows specialization of labor like pottery making for better storage

Animal Husbandry The settled raising of animals Milk Meat Labor Hides Supplemented diet of villages and towns Early on animals were NOT objects of worship.

Pastoralism Different from animal husbandry Societies are mobile Have few possessions Pastoralist still remain in many parts of the world!

M&M’s Imagine you live on M&Ms. Over time hunting gets you a few every day. Then one day, you find people who have plenty for all. They grow them! How would you react? Cities become places where M&Ms are everywhere. People are drawn to cities because of the wealth and opportunities

Bronze Age The discovery of bronze (copper + tin) marks the end of the Stone Age. Harder tools and weapons made of bronze replace stone age technology and propel societies into a new age!!!