The Neolithic Revolution Farming and the Emergence of Complex Societies 10,000 – 1,000 BCE.

Domestication of Plants and Animals Farming Population Intensification Surplus Food Specialization Complex Society, also known as CIVILIZATION 1,000 years ago Today 10,000 years ago The Neolithic Period - - - Rise of Complex Societies

One of the major changes is reflected in this frieze on a wall in Mesopotamia (today Iraq) : which reflects the DOMESTICATION of… animals and plants

Domestication of plants and animals was a monumental change. Have you ‘herd’ about pastoralism? It resulted in the new way of living we know as FARMING (AGRICULTURE)… …which included both PASTORALISM (herding sheep, goats, cattle, horses, and camels), and…

(cultivating domesticated plants), Crop-growing (cultivating domesticated plants), and…

the development of… FARMING COMMUNITIES

Independent Development vs. The Neolithic Revolution Independent Development vs. Cultural Diffusion Areas of Independent Development: SW Asia (wheat, pea, olive, sheep, goat) China & SE Asia (rice, millet, pig) Americas (corn, beans, potato, llama) Areas of Agriculture Through Diffusion: Europe West & Sub-Saharan Africa (?) Indus River Valley (rice cultivation)

Between about 12,000 and 1,000 BCE, farming Eastern North America China Fertile Crescent Nile valley West Africa Mesoamerica New Guinea Ethiopia Andes Amazonia Between about 12,000 and 1,000 BCE, farming appeared INDEPENDENTLY in a number of places, possibly in all of the places marked in red on the map.

Prior to farming, population size in any one area was limited by the availability of wild game, grain, berries, seeds, and nuts. POPULATION INTENSIFICATION Farming and the large, relatively dependable crops it provides allowed for… That means population increases in certain areas. Population in those areas became both larger and denser.

SURPLUS FOOD PRODUCTION At the same time, farmers in some places were, in spite of population growth, able to produce SURPLUS food. What does SURPLUS FOOD PRODUCTION mean for a society?

SURPLUS FOOD PRODUCTION… …means that not everyone has to grow food or tend animals. They can take on other tasks. They can specialize in some non-farming task.                                                                  

This is called… Job Specialization. Men and women may become: Weavers Stone Masons Potters Priests Scribes Traders Army officers

Domestication of Plants and Animals Farming Population Intensification Surplus Food Specialization Complex Society, also known as CIVILIZATION

Metal Working: From Copper to Bronze The Neolithic Revolution Metal Working: From Copper to Bronze The working of metals became very important to early human settlements for tools & weapons. Early settlements gradually shifted from copper to the stronger alloy bronze by 3,000BCE—ushers in the Bronze Age! Metal working spread throughout human communities slowly as agriculture had.

Further Technological Advancements The Neolithic Revolution Further Technological Advancements Wheeled Vehicles Saves labor, allows transport of large loads and enhances trade Potters Wheel (c.6000BCE) Allows the construction of more durable clay vessels and artwork Irrigation & Driven Plows Allows further increase of food production, encourages pop. growth

Early Human Impact on the Environment The Neolithic Revolution Early Human Impact on the Environment Deforestation in places where copper, bronze, and salt were produced. Erosion and flooding where agriculture disturbed soil and natural vegetation. Selective extinction of large land animals and weed plants due to hunting & agriculture.

Advanced Civilization: The Next Step? The Neolithic Revolution Advanced Civilization: The Next Step? By 3500BCE, relatively large, advanced preliterate societies had developed along the Indus, Huang He, Nile, and Tigris & Euphrates Rivers. As societies grew in size and need, sedentary human beings were once again faced with pressures to adapt to changing natural and human environments.

What is Civilization? What Does it Mean to be Civilized?

A Nomadic Bedouin Family in Who is the MOST Civilized? Who would you consider to be living in a more civilized environment? A Nomadic Bedouin Family in Saudi Arabia A Suburban Family in the United States

What is Civilization? But how about…? Slavery? Large-scale warfare? A permanent lower class? Theocracy or Monarchism?

How Have Past Historians Used the Concept? To distinguish accomplished, culturally advanced peoples from “barbarians” or “savages”. To enforce ethnocentric ideals; some people were “inferior”. Civilized = Your own culture Inferior = Every other culture

Past Societies & "Others" Who has been guilty of this view? Westerners (Europeans & Americans), the Chinese, the Japanese, the Sumerians, the Babylonians, the Egyptians, the various Muslim Empires, the Aztecs, the Incas… Hey, are you seeing a pattern?

Elements of civilization include: 1) Cities Mohenjo Daro It’s the law 2) Central governments And Law codes Hammurabi’s Law Code Pharaohs

4) Highly organized religions Elements of Civilization include: 1) Cities 2) Central governments and law codes 3) Writing and record keeping Can you identify the society represented by each of these two writing samples? 4) Highly organized religions

Elements of Civilization include: 1) Cities 2) Central Governments and law codes 5) Specialized Jobs 3) Writing and record keeping 4) Highly organized religion Full-time monk 6) Social Classes Assyrian slaves In Egypt

Elements of Civilization include: 1) Cities 2) Central governments and law codes 7) Complex Technologies 3) Writing and record keeping 4) Highly organized religion Chariot 5) Specialized jobs 6) Social classes Bronze Sword

So, have you been paying attention or doing a bit of day dreaming? Can you list some of the elements of a civilization? Let’s check! Clue: There were 7!

Check your answers below: Good job if your list includes: Check your answers below: 1. Cities 2. Central governments and law codes 3. Writing and record-keeping 4. Specialized jobs Social classes Complex technologies Highly organized religions Good job, huh?

By 3,000 BCE, societies in Southwest Asia and Egypt were developing elements of complex societies. Are we supposed to be taking notes on this? 1,000 years ago Today Big Eras 4-9 Big Era 2 10,000 years ago 3,000 years ago Big Era 3

There were also two new ones in the Americas. By about 1000 BCE, there were several well-established civilizations in Afroeurasia. There were also two new ones in the Americas. At least two civilizations in Afroeurasia, the Minoan in the Mediterranean region and the Harappan in the Indus River valley had already come and gone.

let’s review the major changes. Now, looking back let’s review the major changes. 1,000 years ago Today Big Eras 4-9 Big Era 2 10,000 years ago Big Era 3

Domestication of Plants and Animals Farming Population Intensification Surplus Food Specialization Complex Society, also known as CIVILIZATION 1,000 years ago Today Big Eras 4-9 Big Era 2 10,000 years ago Big Era 3

Complex belief systems That translates into: Farmers Herders Cities Central governments Armies Monumental buildings Written language Social hierarchies Complex belief systems In 10,000 BCE none of these existed in the world. By 1,000 BCE they all did.

Not only has life changed culturally and technologically, but also the rate of change has accelerated. Letters and envelopes Writing Irrigation Wheel Pyramids Copper smelting Temple building Walled cities . Dogs, sheep. goats, horses, wheat, rice, chiles, potatoes—all domesticated Plow farming Alphabet Chariots Pottery 360-degree circle Sailing technology Law Codes Regular trade routes Today Big Eras 4-9 1k years ago Bow & arrow Art 200k yrs ago Language Calendars Big Era 1 BE3 Big Era 2 10k years ago

As we continue with the Classical Period keep your eye on the rate of change. Does it keep increasing? Level off? Slow down? Come to think of it, things changed REALLY fast In the 20th century. I wonder what the rate of change is going to be like in the 21st century?

Well, that’s all for the Early Civilizations, but don’t go away. Hang on to your notes and stay tuned for…

Coming SOON to a classroom near you. The Classical Period Coming SOON to a classroom near you.