The Neolithic Era And Transition to Agriculture

The Origins of Agriculture Probably women gathered & planted seeds The earliest farming: –Wheat is earliest know crop (about 9000 BC ) in the Middle East –Later southeast of the Sahara people started domestication of cattle, sheep & sorghumsorghum –About BC west Africans began to grow yams, okra & black-eyed peas

The Origins of Agriculture Probably women gathered & planted seeds –About 6000 rice was grown in southern China followed by millet & soybeans in northern China –Chickens & pigs were domesticated at this time –By 4000 BC Mesoamericans grew maize & the Andean people grew potatoes –Early Americans had hunted most large animals to extinction Domesticated llamas, alpacas & guinea pigs

Independent Invention V. Cultural Diffusion Agriculture developed independently in many places around the world –There was not 1 site that spread the idea Cultural Diffusion occurs when an idea is spread from one area to another through trade, war or other means

Result of Farming Slash and burn farming methods meant people had to expand into new areasSlash and burn Agriculture was more work than hunting & gathering Agriculture slowed long-distance migrations –People tended to stay near the food supply

Early Agricultural Societies People settled into communities with expanding food supplies –Jericho in Israel & Çatal Hüyük in Turkey –Population increased Evidence of pottery, basketry, textiles, leather goods, & jewelry-makingpottery Domesticated animals provided food & clothing –Women began spinning & weaving in Neolithic era Wealth & social class distinctions began in this era

Neolithic Religions People gained familiarity with the processes of the earth –Developed knowledge of the seasons & astronomical movements Most early worship centered around fertility & the life cycle Neolithic Bird Goddess, B.C.

The Origins of Urban Life Settlements thrived & grew into cities with hegemony over surrounding regions hegemony –Marketplaces attracted long-distance traders Complex social & economic relationships emerged with the appearance of professional classes professional classes The increased need to feed a growing population required military & political control over large areas

The Result of Urban Life Eventually the cultural conditions extended into the newly conquered areas Cities arose in river valleys –Tigris-Euphrates (modern day Iraq) –Nile (Egypt) –Yellow River (northern China) –Indus River (northwest India)

Pottery Çatalhöyük is where the oldest Anatolian pottery has been found. It was fired, unpainted & unglazed with a simple bag shaped form. The pottery was fired in closed kilns outside of houses. But this was not the earliest pottery – the Japanese produced pottery as early as BC. Smaller than other examples of ceramics at Çatalhöyük, this may have been a drinking cup. What do you think the pinched corners on the rim of this finding suggest?

What is Sorghum? It is one of the 5 top cereal crops in the world, along with wheat, oats, corn, and barley. It originated in Africa, and the largest producer of sorghum in the modern era is still Africa, although the crop has spread to southern Asia and the Americas as well.

Who were members of the professional classes? It was very similar to today! –Priests, political managers, artists –Anyone who contributed to society, but produced no agricultural products