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

Early Agriculture About 10,000 years ago, life began to change Called the Neolithic Era or “New” Stone Age People stopped wandering and settled in one place; they shifted from hunting to farming This time period is called the Neolithic Agricultural Revolution Revolution (definition) http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/neolithic-agricultural-revolution-causes- and-implications.html#lesson

The Birth of Farming About 12,000 years ago, the last ice age ended Glaciers started to melt, ocean levels began to rise Most plants and animals adapted to these changes; some did not causing people to hunt new animals and rely more on fishing

Modifying the Environment Cleared bushes and trees to grow grass that would attract different animals Scattered seeds to grow plants

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?

Domesticating Plants and Animals Widespread domestication marked the birth of farming Plants and crops became a nutritious and reliable Animals provided food such as eggs, milk, and honey. Horses and oxen were used for work. Sheep and llamas coats of hair were used to make clothing. *Allowed people to live in communities *Harvested from their environment

New Tools Axes used to cut down trees Sickles used to harvest grain Tools went from being made of stone to materials such as bronze and iron (Bronze Age and Iron Age.) ....Get it?

The Spread of Farming The First Centers of Agriculture Most historians believe that southwestern Asia became the first center of Agriculture around 10,000 years ago. Spread into Europe and South Asia

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?

Costs and Benefits of Farming Planting crops and herding animals took a great deal of time and energy Farming was uncertain Farming was dangerous Clearing the land for crops could lead to deforestation (definition) which could lead to erosion (definition) Farming produced food New material for clothing was established

New Ways of Living: New Kinds of Shelter Farmers found ways to make a permanent shelter Mixed mud and straw to form walls Poles and branches made roofs One of the oldest know farming settlements is a village called Catalhoyuk (shot-l- hoo-yook) in present day Turkey More than 8,000 years old Provided water and building materials Grew grains and raised sheep and goats Wall paintings Catal – Hyuk: A stone-age village in modern Turkey

Drawing of Catal Huyuk

New Clothing and Farming Lighter clothing was worn Used cotton from cotton plant to weave cloth; Used flax to make linen Wool and animal hair made yard or thread Learned how to rotate crops to help keep soil healthy Surpluses and Specialization Surplus (definition) could support growing population Specialization Trade goods for food Social organization Farming communities were small Social standings did not exist yet (Upper class, middle class, lower class) Permanent housing led to more possessions which eventually led to different social classes