1. The Neolithic Revolution
The Biggest Mistake in Human History?
Hunter-gatherers work about 20% of the day to provide enough food to survive, farmers work about 60% of the day to provide enough to survive.
Why would anyone do this?

2. The Paleolithic
Hunters and Gatherers

3. Neolithic Revolution Only .1% of plants and animals are
edible, most are indigestible, poisonous,
low in nutrition, tedious to prepare,
difficult to gather, or dangerous to hunt.
Began around 12,000 BCE
It’s the systematic cultivation of plants
and domestication of animals.
It introduced settled communities.
Where did it happen?
Eurasia, Zagros Mts., it had an ideal climate and 9 of the 14 domesticable
animals of the world, including the “Big 5.”
(America has only 5 domesticable critters ,some places have none)
Zagros
Zagros Mts. near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.
Why did it happen?
Climate Change?
Scarcity of food?
Increasing population?
China and America developed the NR
independently while Egypt acquired
it from their neighbors. Australia
never had a Neolithic Revolution.

4. “Neolithic Firsts” Village Life: living full time in one place.
Farming: the planting, tending and
harvesting of plants for human use.
Leads to food surplus.
Domestication: altering a plant or
animal to better suit human needs.

5. Çatal Höyük A Neolithic Settlement 7500 BCE
Grew cereals, peas, domesticated sheep and began to domesticate cattle.
relatively egalitarian---no evidence of labor specialization or gender distinction

6. N.R. leads to River Valley Societies (civilization)
Why here?
Animals and plants
Problems of domestication:
-not nutritious (jellyfish, bark)
-dangerous (rhino, crocodile)
-feeding (lion, orc)
(Some animals can be tamed, but are not domesticated like cats and elephants)

7. Benefits of Neolithic Revolution
More protein from domesticated and tamed animals.
Animals not only furnish meat but milk, fertilizer and power.
Horses also were a vital weapon and would be the major military vehicle until World War I.
Food surplus from plants allowing for increased population (nomads keep a baby every 4 years) and longer life.
Surplus also lead to job specialization: leaders, soldiers, priests and artisans. COMPLEX SOCIETIES can now form.
Domesticated animals are responsible for the spread of germs and disease. (pox, measles, flu) Immunity of agriculturalists help them push migrators out of area.

8. Deadly Gifts from Our Animal Friends
Measles - Cattle
Tuberculosis - Cattle
Small Pox - Cattle (cowpox)
Flu - Pigs and Ducks
Whooping cough - Pigs and Dogs
Falciparum Malaria - Chickens and Ducks

10. What are the six characteristics of COMPLEX SOCIETIES? (civilizations)
1. Advanced cities
-population size (10,000s)
- trade/ administrative center
- religious center

11. 2. Specialized Workers Lived in cities, fed by surplus food
Artisans, shopkeepers, soldiers,
officials, rulers, priests

12. 3. Social Classes
Invert these two
if talking about
China

13. 4. Complex Institutions: the long- lasting patterns of organization
Government
Religion
Education
Military

14. 5.Record keeping/writing
Keep track of events, time, business transactions, religious rituals

15. 6. Advanced Technology Monumental architecture Art, public works
New tools (wheel, plow, sailboat,)

16. A.P. Sample Question I
Identify the statement that best begins an explanation of the Neolithic Revolution.
A. In Northern Europe, nomadic hunters began to produce more complex stone tools.
B. In East Asia, early settlers began using markings on turtle shells and bones as an early form of record keeping.
C. In the Middle East, people began to settle in small communities and practice agriculture.
D. In Mesoamerica, agricultural settlements saw an expansion of their populations and the beginning of more complex governments.

17. A.P. Sample Question II More reliable and abundant food supply
Job specialization based on a surplus of food Development of a more formal social hierarchy
Increased population creating some social pressures as traditional family/clan loyalties broke down
All of the above resulted from what cultural change?
A. The development of complex government
B. The adoption of agriculture
C. The development of metal tools
D. The growth of complex, organized settlements