REVIEW Unit 4 Agricultural and Urban Revolutions (objective exam over Units 3 and 4 will be on Friday, essay – extended response portion will be tomorrow (Tuesday).

Unit 4 – Agricultural and Urban Revolutions Agricultural (Neolithic) Revolution: Definition: when humans began to settle down to raise their own domesticated crops and animals Definition: when humans began to settle down to raise their own domesticated crops and animals Began perhaps as long as 20,000 years ago but at least by 13,000 years ago Began perhaps as long as 20,000 years ago but at least by 13,000 years ago Permanent living sites (settlements) began to appear in various parts of the world about 13,000 years ago Permanent living sites (settlements) began to appear in various parts of the world about 13,000 years ago

Agricultural (Neolithic) Revolution, con’t Pastoralism: the process of raising domesticated animals (herding, raising goats, sheep, etc.) Pastoralism: the process of raising domesticated animals (herding, raising goats, sheep, etc.) Crops raised by people and the regions associated with them: Crops raised by people and the regions associated with them: 1. Africa: Yams and teff 2. North America: sunflowers 3. South America: bean and potatoes 4. Mesoamerica: maise 5. Southeast Asia: rice 6. Middle East and South Asia: barley and wheat

Neolithic Revolution, con’t The environment and terrain influenced what crops were cultivated (some crops needed more water, a particular type of soil, temperature mattered) The environment and terrain influenced what crops were cultivated (some crops needed more water, a particular type of soil, temperature mattered) Question to consider (using reason and an example): Was the Agricultural Revolution a strategy (plan) that allowed the development of larger communities OR did the develop-ment of larger communities demand the security of a more predictable food source? Question to consider (using reason and an example): Was the Agricultural Revolution a strategy (plan) that allowed the development of larger communities OR did the develop-ment of larger communities demand the security of a more predictable food source?

Agricultural Revolution, con’t Why did humans turn to agriculture (as opposed to continuing as hunters and gatherers)? Why did humans turn to agriculture (as opposed to continuing as hunters and gatherers)? Disadvantages: practicing agriculture and pastoralism was harder and more time consuming than foraging; early on, they had a more limited diet than what they had as foragers Disadvantages: practicing agriculture and pastoralism was harder and more time consuming than foraging; early on, they had a more limited diet than what they had as foragers Advantages: practicing agriculture made it possible to produce a greater quantity of food in a smaller area; these crops could be manipulated to become more productive; they were capable of supporting an increasing population Advantages: practicing agriculture made it possible to produce a greater quantity of food in a smaller area; these crops could be manipulated to become more productive; they were capable of supporting an increasing population * This process was more than likely unintentional (in the beginning) but the overall result was an increased ability of societies to thrive and expand. * This process was more than likely unintentional (in the beginning) but the overall result was an increased ability of societies to thrive and expand.

Agricultural Revolution, con’t The domestication of maize: The domestication of maize: Because humans kept selecting kernels that stayed on the husks to replant– corn eventually lost its ability to reproduce on its own without the help of man. Because humans kept selecting kernels that stayed on the husks to replant– corn eventually lost its ability to reproduce on its own without the help of man. Tehuacán valley: archaeologists believe that humans living here over time accidentally domesticated maize— moving from the riverbanks to the foothills to the mountains because of environmental factors (climate, seasons, etc.) and continually “experimenting” with the wild maize eventually led to its domestication once the environment changed drastically because of extended droughts. Tehuacán valley: archaeologists believe that humans living here over time accidentally domesticated maize— moving from the riverbanks to the foothills to the mountains because of environmental factors (climate, seasons, etc.) and continually “experimenting” with the wild maize eventually led to its domestication once the environment changed drastically because of extended droughts.

Urban Revolutions Urban = “city” life Urban = “city” life How and why did they get started? There is no distinct, definitive way in which early settlements became urban centers (they all followed their own paths). But… they all shared the following characteristics: How and why did they get started? There is no distinct, definitive way in which early settlements became urban centers (they all followed their own paths). But… they all shared the following characteristics: (1) their existence relied on the intensive manipulation of the environment and they resulted in greater complexity; (1) their existence relied on the intensive manipulation of the environment and they resulted in greater complexity; (2) as communities grew larger, they needed access to more distant resources (via trade) which united city dwellers with those who lived outside the city walls (those they traded with). (2) as communities grew larger, they needed access to more distant resources (via trade) which united city dwellers with those who lived outside the city walls (those they traded with).

Urban Revolutions Disadvantages of living in an urban center: 1. they could become overcrowded and over populated 2. they often developed food shortages 3. diseases often broke out in crowded cities Advantages: security AND ????

Urban Revolutions, con’t Complex societies evolved at different times in widely separated areas like Africa, the Americas, and Eurasia (on the road from settlements to cities). Complex societies evolved at different times in widely separated areas like Africa, the Americas, and Eurasia (on the road from settlements to cities). While urban growth occurred independently in each region, all of these areas shared some similar patterns: While urban growth occurred independently in each region, all of these areas shared some similar patterns: (1) distinctions in wealth, (1) distinctions in wealth, (2) status and gender became more important, (2) status and gender became more important, (3) new kinds of culture with new forms of expression. (3) new kinds of culture with new forms of expression. See your chart for details Pottery: archaeologists see pottery as a sign of a settled society (people need storage vessels for water, grain, etc. in order to survive).

Mehrgarh: Lessons Learned Archaeologists’ mistaken ideas: that the people of Mehrgarh (in present day Pakistan) developed ideas about pottery, metals, and agriculture from migrants from the west via the process of cultural diffusion (by 6000 BCE) Archaeologists’ mistaken ideas: that the people of Mehrgarh (in present day Pakistan) developed ideas about pottery, metals, and agriculture from migrants from the west via the process of cultural diffusion (by 6000 BCE) When in fact, Mehrgarh appears to have developed some rudimentary knowledge of making clay objects and had harvested primitive local barleys When in fact, Mehrgarh appears to have developed some rudimentary knowledge of making clay objects and had harvested primitive local barleys Most archaeologists today believe that 8,000 years ago (or so) Mehrgarh was an unsophisticated settlement (that had developed independent of others) but by about 6000 BCE, migrants had moved into the area and had spread their ideas about making pottery (storage vessels, etc.) and raising more sophisticated varieties of barley and other grains. Most archaeologists today believe that 8,000 years ago (or so) Mehrgarh was an unsophisticated settlement (that had developed independent of others) but by about 6000 BCE, migrants had moved into the area and had spread their ideas about making pottery (storage vessels, etc.) and raising more sophisticated varieties of barley and other grains.