The Neolithic Revolution (8000BCE-3500BCE) AKA Agricultural Revolution: Humans begin to slowly domesticate plants and animals. Introduction of farming Agriculture requires nomadic peoples to live in permanent settlements. Populations begin to rise in areas where plant and animal domestication occurred.

Advantages & Costs of Agriculture AdvantagesCosts Steady food supplies Greater populations Leads to organized societies capable of supporting job specialization (soldiers, weavers, scribes, etc.) Heavily dependant on certain food crops (failure = starvation) Disease from close contact with animals, humans, & waste Can’t easily leave sites

Agriculture Slowly Spreads: What do you notice about the core areas?

Areas of Independent Development: 1.Tigrus and Euphrates River Valley (wheat, pea, olive, sheep, goat) 2.Yellow River Valley (rice, millet, pig) 3.Indus River Valley (rice cultivation) 4.Nile River Valley (papyrus, bees, cats)

High starch diets slowly allow populations to grow: rice, wheat, corn  More surplus=more people=more trade  When the first plow is invented crop yields increase rapidly and by 4000BCE. pop. grows from 5-8 million to million agricultural populations begin to spread out and nomadic groups are displaced or assimilated Agriculturalists Dominate

First Towns Develop Catal Huyuk Modern Turkey First settled: 7000BCE Jericho Modern Israel First settled: 7000BCE

First Towns Develop Towns require job specialization: metal workers, pottery workers, farmers, soldiers, religious and political leaders. (POSSIBLE B/C OF FOOD SURPLUSES!) Served as trade centers for the area; specialized in the production of certain unique crafts Beginnings of hierarchy (class)

What is civilization? 1.Advanced cities- large populations that rely on farming and TRADE 2.Specialized Workers- became skilled and expert at jobs other than farming 3.Complex Institutions- a long lasting pattern of organization in a community (ex. government, religion, the economy) 4.Record Keeping- developed system of writing to keep track of laws, calendars, tax collection, food storage 5.Advanced Technology- new tools and techniques that are needed to solve the problems that emerge in society

Roles of Women Women generally lost status under male- dominated systems. Switch from gathering 80% of the diet to simple meal preparation. Women were limited in jobs Women lacked the same social rights as men.

Metal Working: From Copper to Bronze The working of metals became very important to early human settlements for tools & weapons. Metal workers had a special place in society because they were considered magical. Metal working spread throughout human communities slowly as agriculture had.

Further Technological Advancements Wheeled Vehicles Saves labor, allows transport of large loads and enhances trade Potters Wheel 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 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.