1. The Neolithic Revolution and Early Agricultural Societies

2. Food Production: The Biggest Mistake???
Food production = Hard Work!
It often led to:
poorer health
shorter lifespan
harder labor for the majority of people
Societies do not develop agriculture unless there is a strong push toward that direction (necessity, hospitable environment and species, etc.)

3. Paleolithic Era 2 million BCE – about 10,000 BCE
“Old Stone Age” – first use of stone tools until agriculture

4. Life of Paleolithic Humans
Hunting and Gathering economies (began to change around 10,000 BCE)
Human population = low (1 mile of land supported 2 people)
Women and men = relatively equal (women’s gathering brought in more calories; mystery of bearing life)
Humans developed cultures and beliefs (art, burials, religious ideas)
Populated EVERY continent by about 18,000 BCE

8. The Neolithic Revolution
What is this?
Where did it happen?
When did it happen?
WHY did it happen?

9. What? Neolithic Era
“Agricultural Revolution” = domestication of plants & animals
Village Life
Still stone tools

10. Where? Fertile Crescent
Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
End of Last Ice Age
Warming Climate
Wild grasses abundant
Wild Grasses closest to domesticated varieties

11. How did Agriculture Develop?
Availability of calories determines how people get food
End of ice age  Plants thriving
Humans began “helping” plants along and selecting for traits, to increase calories gathered
Certain plants were abundant and provided many calories=Humans actively chose these
Wheat
Discussion Point: Main crop growing around town? Why is that? Less plant diversity discussion.

12. Where & When? Location Dates (B.C.E) Plants Animals
Southwest Asia (Fertile Crescent)
Barley, wheat, lentils, figs
Goats, sheep, cattle, pigs
China
Rice, millet, soybeans
Pigs, chickens, water buffalo
Saharan and Sub-Saharan Africa
Sorghum, millet, yams, teff
Cattle (perhaps 8000 B.C.E)
Highland New Guinea
Taro, bananas, yams, sugarcane
Andes region
Potatoes, quinoa, manioc
Llamas, alpaca, guinea pig
Mesoamerica
Maize, squash (perhaps 7000 B.C.E), beans
Turkey
Eastern woodlands of North America
Sunflower, goosefoot, sumpweed
Guided notes: Include blank map for location of progress

13. Why Mesopotamia First? BL=Undomesticated wheat, BR=Change corn (Easier and faster to domesticate wheat than corn)

14. What else is needed for a Neolithic Revolution?
Animal Domestication – what is it?
An animal will breed where and when we want it to and often. It will come to us for food. It is not aggressive.
Examples?

15. Important Domesticated Animals
Horse
Cow
Pig
Sheep
Goat
Chicken Ox
Indian Elephant
All from Eurasia

16. What was in the Americas. Only the guinea pig, turkey, and… llamasong
What was in the Americas? Only the guinea pig, turkey, and… llamasong.flv

17. So What? What does the Neolithic Revolution allow?:
A sedentary lifestyle
The need for cooperation and group effort
Job specialization
Social Hierarchies (Social classes)
Patriarchy (Rule by males)
Population Growth
Why do these occur?

18. Results for Agricultural Society
Now that you have possessions, what do you have to do?
Kings- to direct
Militaries – to protect
Priests – to protect and record (BUREAUCRATS)
Scribes and writing – to protect and keep accounts
Artisans- make storage vessels (pottery)

19. Animals + agricultural package =
Military & organizational superiority

20. Did Everyone Switch?
No. Why not?

21. River Valley Civilizations: Called that for a reason!
Yes due to ability to irrigate

22. Eurasian Steppe (grasslands)
Yes, abundant grass leads to pastoralism

23. African Savannah
Degradation of grasslands through pastoralism

24. Inuit Lands
Fatty animals fishing