1. Agriculture and Civilization
Beginnings of
Agriculture and Civilization

2. Bell Ringer What is nomad?
What do you think began the start of civilizations (or cities)?
What are the pros and cons of civilizations starting?

3. The Times They are a-Changin’
Neolithic revolution or agriculture revolution was the far-reaching changes in human life resulting from the beginnings of farming

4. Causes of Agricultural Revolution
No exact reason known to scientists
Most likely due to change in climate
Populations rose

5. Agriculture Facts Many used the slash and burn farming technique
Domestication of animals occurred
Included horses, dogs, goats, and pigs
The revolution had people settling down which led to the growth of villages

6. Villages Grow and prosper
Farming developed in Africa, China, Mexico and Central America, and Peru.

7. Catal Huyuk Among first Neolithic villages In Turkey near a volcano
Covered 32 acres
Houses made of mud brick
Surrounded by huge wall which suggest it had a government

8. Villages grow into Cities

9. CHANGES Irrigation systems Food surpluses
ECONOMIC
SOCIAL
Irrigation systems
Food surpluses
Craftspeople created valuable new products like pottery, metal objects, and woven cloth
Two major inventions:
Wheel
Sail
Irrigation systems required labor
Social classes of wealth and power spring up
Religion also became more organized
Centered around nature, animal spirits, and some idea of afterlife

10. How Civilization Develops
Historian tend to believe first civilization was in Sumer
Sumer was located in Mesopotamia (region of Iraq)
Civilization is defined by 5 characteristics
1. advanced cities
2. specialized workers
Specializations
Artisans
3.complex institutions
Institution
4. record keeping
Scribes
Cuneiform
5. Advanced technology
Bronze Age

11. Advanced Cities City is a large group of people living together.
City is the center of trade for a larger area
Depend on trade, farmers, and merchants

12. Specialized Workers
Specializations-development of skills in a specific kind of work
Artisans, Farmers, Merchants, metal workers, etc

13. Complex Institutions
Long lasting pattern of organization in a community such as governments, religions, and the economy
Most cities had temples

14. Record Keeping
Government, religion, and the economy became more complex, there was a need to keep record
Developed system of writing and some had scribes who were professional recorders
System of writing called cuneiform was invented that was wedge-shaped

15. Improved Technology
New tools and techniques: plows, wheels, and irrigation
Referred to as the Bronze Age because they also began to use bronze, rather than copper and stone

16. Consequences of the Neolithic Revolution
Agriculture led to a inactive lifestyle
Pastoralism led to a nomadic lifestyle
Agriculturalists often used domesticated animals
New social institutions emerged:
Neolithic villages
Pastoralist clan-tribes
Agriculture led to enormous productivity increases
Agriculture led to significant population increase and density
Specialization of technology and skills developed

17. Dangers of the Neolithic Revolution
The vulnerability of monoculture (single crop in one area)
Soil destruction
Disease
The nomad-sedentary conflict
Social disruption

18. Types of societies (Write down the ones you do not know)
Theocracy: a government in which the ruler is viewed as divine figure
Democracy: a government controlled by its citizens either directly or through representatives
Oligarchy : a government in which power is in the hands of a few people
Tyranny: one powerful individual who gains control of a city-state’s government by appealing to the poor for support
Aristocracy: a government in which power is in the hands of a hereditary ruling class or nobility