WORLD STUDIES OCTOBER 8, 2013 Neolithic Revolution

End of the Ice Age: The earth’s warming helped create more lands for the early inhabitants of the earth, about 8,000 B.C. After the Paleolithic Age and the Ice Age, came the Neolithic Age.

Neolithic Revolution During the Neolithic Age, there was a revolution. Revolution usually means a “violent uprising against the government’ but in this case, revolution deals with changing how we live. This Neolithic Revolution was a shift from hunters and gatherers to a system of keeping and raising animals and growing food on a regular basis. This new system is called systematic agriculture.

Systematic Agriculture: Cause and Effect Now that early humans in the Neolithic Age understand how to plant and cultivate crops, they don’t have to continue hunting and gathering. They have a permanent food source. They also learn how to domesticate (control and use) animals. They can now raise animals for food and use them to do work. This gave them a reliable source of meat, milk, and wool.

Needs for Systematic Agriculture: What is the most important thing need to grow crops and raise animals? LAND, and lots of it. Since they had to tend to the land and animals, they had to give up (happily) their nomadic way of life. They established settlement communities Some argue that this was the single most important development in human history. This didn’t mean everyone stopped hunting and gathering. Some people continued this lifestyle.

The growing of crops: Wheat and barley Domesticated pigs, cows, goats, and sheep 8000 BC Spread to Eastern Europe, then central Europe and coastal regions of the Mediterranean Sea Wheat and barley in the Nile Valley Spreads to other regions of Africa Central Africa had root veggies (yams, potatoes, and beets) and tree crops like bananas. Rice was grown here by 5000 BC. By 6000 BC, millet and domesticating dogs Mesoamericans grew beans, squash, and maize. Domesticated dogs and fowl between 7000 and 5000 BC

Neolithic Farming Villages: Because people were now growing crops on a regular basis, permanent settlements were being established. These Neolithic Farming Villages appeared in Europe, India, Egypt, China, and Mesoamerica.

Early Neolithic Farming Villages: Jericho, by the Dead Sea in South West Asia, was in existence by 8000 BC. Catalhuyuk, in modern Turkey, covered 32 acres and had about 6000 inhabitants. Houses were close together, with few streets and people walked on the roofs and entered the houses through holes in the rooftops. A steady food supply (grown outside the cities walls) allowed for a surplus of food.

Impact of Agriculture Surplus food meant few people were needed for farming. This allowed for specialization of labor. Some early inhabitants of Catalhuyuk became artisans (skilled workers who make things). These items were used to barter, or exchanged, but not sold. This is the beginning of a traditional economy based on agriculture and limited trade.

Also at Catalhuyuk Special buildings, or shrines, were discovered. These shrines contained figurines of gods and goddesses. Statues of women giving birth or nursing a child have been found there. These shrines point to the expanding role of religion.

Effects of the Neolithic Revolution: Daily life was changed forever. Once people began living in villages and towns, they saw the need for protection. They built walls and storehouses (to keep food safe). Food surpluses encouraged trade. Trade encouraged people to learn crafts. This led to a division of labor. Food SurplusTradeArtisans

Advancements As artisans become more skilled, they made more refined (nicer, more specific) tools. Farm tools were developed (sickles and hoes). Many plants still cultivated today were first cultivated in the Neolithic Age. Cotton and flax were used to make clothes and yarn (move away from using animal skin to make clothes).

Consequences for Men and Women Men became more active in farming and herding animals. This kept them away from the settlement. Women stayed behind. They cared for the children, wove cloth for clothing, and did other task on the settlement. Men became more and more responsible for providing food, which in turn gave them a more dominant role.

This is the end… New developments came about between 4000 and 3000 BC. Discovered that if they heat metal barring rocks, they could turn it to liquid. It could then be poured into molds, or casts, to make tools and weapons. This allowed people to have a better control over their environment.

Bronze Age and Iron Age Copper was the first metal to be used in making tools. In western Asia, it was discovered that you could make bronze by combining copper and tin. Bronze was harder and more durable than straight copper. This led to the Bronze Age, from around 3000 to 1200 BC. After 1000 BC, iron was the metal of choice when making tools and weapons. This time is considered the Iron Age.

Changes during the Neolithic Age As people mastered farming, villages developed more complex and wealthier societies. To protect their wealth, armies were developed and walls were built around property. The farming villages, around river valleys, let to the development of cities.

Civilizations Emerge From the earliest times, people have lived in small nomadic groups with simple cultures (way of life) that helped them survive. When permanent villages were established, their cultures become more complex and eventually developed into a form of human society we call civilizations.

Civilizations Civilizations are complex cultures in which large numbers of human beings share a number of common elements. Basic characteristics of civilizations: 1. Cities 2. Government 3. Religion 4. Social Stucture 5. Writing 6. Art

Civilizations Cities Location of many people living together, but in separate households. Government Organize and regulate human activity. Provide for smooth interaction between individuals and groups. First civilizations usually led by monarchs (king or queen) who organized armies and made laws. Religion A way to explain the forces of nature and their role in the world. Gods and goddess were important to the community’s success. Priest carried on rituals to please them.

Civilizations Social Structure Based on economic power. Rulers, priest, warriors, and gov’t officials dominated society. Next were free people (farmers, artisans, and craftspeople). At the bottom were slaves. Writing Way of keeping accurate records. Eventually, writing was used as creative expression. Art Architects built temples and pyramids as places of worship or sacrifice. Artwork portrayed stories of nature. Also, rulers and gods were depicted in art.