Road to the Agricultural Revolution Paleolithic to Neolithic Era

Prehistory Prehistoric or Prehistory – refers to the time before the advancement of writing.

Paleolithic Era Paleolithic Era also means Old Stone Age. The Paleolithic or old stone age began 2 million years go.

Paleolithic Era Homo Sapiens during this period were: –Nomads –The first to make simple tools and weapons. –Make cave art –Master the use of Fire. –Develop a language –Living in clans

Neolithic Era Neolithic Era also means the new stone age. Homo Sapiens during this period: Developed agriculture Domesticated animals Used advanced tools like spears Developed weaving skills

The Agricultural Revolution The Neolithic Age is sometimes called the Agricultural Age Nomads turned to Farmers They learned to domesticate (tame) animals They learned to farm their food

Agricultural Revolution From food gathering to food producing 8000 BCE Occurred at different time in different parts of the world Happened slowly Some hunted, some planted seeds

Social Variations Pastoral Agricultural Chiefdoms

Happened Independently 1. Fertile Crescent 2. several areas in Sub-Saharan Africa 3. New Guinea 4. Mesoamerica 5. the Andes 6. eastern North America 7. China

Agricultural Revolution as a marker event: Important changes that changed the way humans live: 1. People settled down - –private property emerged as people claimed land –Accumulated goods and possessions 2. Division of labor - –specialized labor according to talents –Tools, tending animals, crafts 3. Social inequality –Land accumulation passed down from generation to generation

continued 4. Gender inequality –Began status distinction b/t men and women –Loss of women economic power –men took over care of plants and animals –Women did domesticated chores 5. The importance of surplus –Not everyone a farmer –Farmers had to grow enough food for specialized laborers –More reliable food - improved health, pop. Growth –Led to growth of towns and cities

continued 6. Religious changes –Polytheism - multiple gods –Gods with human characteristics –Sun god, rain god, fertility gods –Connection b/t fertility of soil and fertility of human beings –Vuluptuous female deities

Craft Industries Pottery - clay –Store food Metallurgy –Copper - easily malleable –Knives, axes, farm tools, weapons Textiles Made useful products for the whole community

Towns and cities grow By 4000 BCE Jericho - Jordan River Catal Huyuk - Turkey Heavily fortified for protection Trade to supplement agricultural base

What are the advantages and disadvantages of civilization?

Civilizations Not all people lived in villages and settled. Many clans today are still nomads Early city dwellers viewed nomads as inferior - barbarians Humans now control other living species Can reshape environment

What did it all lead to? All of these developments led to the rise of settlements and agriculture. This advanced homo sapiens towards civilization.

The Five Features of a Civilization

Pneumonic Device Ants –Advanced Cities Can’t –Complex Institutions (government, religion) Take –Technology Slick –Specialized workers Rice –Record Keeping

Advanced Cities In order to be considered a city it must have: –1. Large population –2. Must be a center of TRADE

Complex Institutions Institution – a long lasting pattern of organization in a community such as –Government –Religion –Economy

Technology New tools and techniques that solve problems and make life easier

Specialized Workers Specialized means someone has the skills to do a specific kind of work

Record Keeping Must have a developed system of writing so the people can: –Record business –Write a set of laws –Priests can record rituals and dates

POV Exercise A view of Enkidu in the Epic of Gilgamesh, early Mesopotamia “His body was rough; he had long hair like a woman’s; it waved like the hair of Nisaba, the goddess of corn. His body was covered with matted hair like Samuquan’t, the god of cattle. He was innocent of mankind; he knew nothing of cultivated land…. With awe in his heart he spoke to his father: “Father, there is a man, unlike any other, who comes down from the hills. He is the strongest in the world, he is like an immortal from heaven. He ranges over the hills with wild beasts and eats grass; he ranges through your land and comes down to the well. I am afraid and dare not go near him. He fills in the pits which I dig and tears up my traps set for the game; he helps the beasts to escape and now they slip through my fingers.”