Chapter 2 Section 2: The Neolithic Age Page 41

The Neolithic Age AKA New Stone Age People became farmers Called the Neolithic Revolution

Neolithic Revolution Two changes caused this: Learning to farm through spilled grain Learning to herd animals by fencing in animals and killing one at a time Captured animals lost their fear of people and became domesticated

Because of the Neolithic Revolution the population of the world began to grow 8000 BC= 5 million people 4000 BC= 90 million people

Early Villages People formed villages near good soil and water. Earliest were found in Southwest Asia Jericho- Near Israel

The walls and roof were supported by a “post-and-lintel” This enabled buildings to support weight above an open space.

Specialization More food meant less people were needed to produce it. People became potters, weavers, and metal workers. They made: pots, cloth, jewelry, and weapons. Metal was scarce, so they used stone,bone,and wood.

Government Village government also developed during the Neolithic Age. People set boundaries and passed their land down to their children. A single chief settled disputes over land.

Religion The chiefs of each village were also priests. They handled religious duties which involved praying for: soil, water, and animals. First prayed to forces of nature, later to gods and goddesses such as Earth Mother (fertility)