Chapter 2 Section 3 Beginnings of Agriculture

The First Farmers (main idea) 1. What is the Neolithic Era? This is known as the “New Stone Age” and began as early as 10,000 y.a. in Southwest Asia. In other places this era began much later and lasted much longer. In Egypt and Southwest Asia it ended about 5,000 y.a.

2. What is the Neolithic Revolution? Farm 2. What is the Neolithic Revolution? A time when people shifted from hunter-gatherers to food producing. (farmers) 3. What is domestication? Domestication is the process of changing plants or animals to make them more useful to humans. Domesticated animals

4. What is agriculture? Agriculture is another name for farming. The domestication of plants and animals led to the development of farming. Farmers could keep sheep or goats for milk, food, and wool. They also used large animals like camels and cattle to pull large tools and loads.

Domestication Map

5. How Did Farming Change Societies? Farmers used plant fibers to make clothes. They used wool from sheep to weave cloth. They stayed in one place. They were able to control food production when the population increased. Groups of people grew into communities and towns.

6. What are megaliths? Megaliths are huge stones used as monuments or as the sites for religious gatherings. Early people probably believed in gods and goddesses associated with the four elements- air, water, fire, and earth. They were also thought to believe in their ancestors.

Summary Neolithic village Stone Age peoples adapted to new environments by domesticating plants and animals. These changes led to the development of religion and the growth of towns. Neolithic Tool maker