1. The Neolithic Revolution
Learning Goal 1: Identify the causes and effects of the Neolithic Revolution and the development of the River Valley Civilizations and Identify the characteristics of civilizations.

2. The Neolithic Revolution
Vocabulary
Agriculture- The science, art, and business of cultivating soil, producing crops, and raising livestock; farming.
Civilization- a complex culture in which large numbers of human beings share a number of basic characteristics.
Legal Code- a code of laws adopted by a state or nation
Irrigation- To supply land with water artificially
Mesopotamia- An ancient region of southwest Asia between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in modern-day Iraq. The area was the home of numerous early civilizations, including Sumer, Akkad, Babylonia, and Assyria.
Monarchy- Government by a sovereign ruler such as a king or queen.
Neolithic- Of or relating to the cultural period of the Stone Age beginning around 10,000 b.c. in the Middle East and later elsewhere, characterized by the development of agriculture and the making of polished stone implements.
Theocracy- Government by a divine authority
Patriarchal- Dominated by men
Empire- A large political unit, usually under a single leader that controls many people
City-State- a city in with political and economic control over the surrounding countryside

3. The Neolithic Revolution
Prehistory
Paleolithic Age – Old Stone Age (Est. 2 mil BC-8000 BC)
Hunters & Gatherers
Nomad: Moving from place to place in search for food.
Men  hunted & fished.
Woman  gathered fruits, nuts, etc.
Way of Life
Cave paintings
Stone tools & pottery
Domesticated dogs
Neolithic Age – New Stone Age (8000 BC – 3000 BC)
Farming  Neolithic Revolution
People could remain in one place.
Herding of animals – goats, sheep & cattle.
Community –
Council of Elders/Chief – made important decisions.
Warrior class
Kept possessions.

4. The Stone Age Old Stone Age New Stone Age Paleolithic Age
2,500,000 to 8000 BCE
Made stone chopping tools
Hunter-gatherers
Humans migrated across the globe
End of the Paleolithic coincided with the end of the last ice age
Modern human beings overlapped with Homo erectus and Neanderthals
Cave paintings and small carvings
New Stone Age
Neolithic Age
BCE
Humans made numerous tools, as well as jewelry, from bone, wood, stone, tusks, etc.
Pottery
Permanent settlements
Agriculture (farming)
Animal domestication
Modern human beings left as the only hominids on the planet

5. What is The Neolithic Revolution?
Shift from HUNTING AND GATHERING to SETTLED COMMUNITIES
Cultivation of surplus crops = no longer need to wander looking for food = can stay in one place
Civilizations need to be near freshwater – why?
-Irrigation and transportation

6. 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.

7. Advantages & Costs of Agriculture
The Neolithic Revolution
Advantages & Costs of Agriculture
Advantages
Costs
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

8. Agriculture Slowly Spreads: What do you notice about the core areas?
The Neolithic Revolution
Agriculture Slowly Spreads: What do you notice about the core areas?

9. The Neolithic Revolution
Areas of Independent Development:
Tigrus and Euphrates River Valley (wheat, pea, olive, sheep, goat)
Yellow River Valley (rice, millet, pig)
Indus River Valley (rice cultivation)
Nile River Valley (papyrus, bees, cats)

10. Agriculturalists Dominate
The Neolithic Revolution
Agriculturalists Dominate
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

11. The Neolithic Revolution
First Towns Develop
Catal Huyuk
Modern Turkey
First settled:
7000BCE
Jericho
Modern Israel
First settled:
7000BCE

12. (POSSIBLE B/C OF FOOD SURPLUSES!)
The Neolithic Revolution
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)

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

14. The Neolithic Revolution
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.

15. Metal Working: From Copper to Bronze
The Neolithic Revolution
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.

16. Further Technological Advancements
The Neolithic Revolution
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

17. Early Human Impact on the Environment
The Neolithic Revolution
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.

18. 6 Characteristics of Civilization
The Neolithic Revolution
6 Characteristics of Civilization
1. Rise of Cities
2. Social Structure/Social Distinctions
3. Government
4. Writing/Record Keeping
5. Religion
6. Artistic Achievements

19. 6 Characteristics of Civilization
The Neolithic Revolution
6 Characteristics of Civilization
1. Rise of Cities
The 1st cities developed in river valleys, where people would carry on the large scale farming that was needed to feed large populations.
2. Social Structure/Social Distinctions
Social Structures were based on economic power. Rulers and an upper class of priests, government officials and warriors dominated societies. There was a large group of free people containing farmers, artisans and craftspeople. Slaves were in the lowest class.

20. 6 Characteristics of Civilization
The Neolithic Revolution
6 Characteristics of Civilization
3. Government
Governments organize and regulate human activity. They also provide for smooth interaction between individuals and groups. The 1st civilizations were usually governed by rulers- Usually Monarchs (Kings and Queens).
4. Writing/Record Keeping
Writing was used to keep accurate records. They also used writing as a means of creative expression.

21. 6 Characteristics of Civilization
The Neolithic Revolution
6 Characteristics of Civilization
5. Religion
All of the religions developed to explain the workings of the forces of nature. Gods and Goddesses were often believed to be crucial to a community process. Rulers often claimed that their power was based on divine approval.
6. Artistic Achievements
Temples and Pyramids were built as places for worship or sacrifice, or for the burial of Kings. Paintings and sculptures were developed to portray Gods and Goddesses or natural forces.