2. Neolithic Era Literally means “New Stone Age” Began roughly 9500 BC
Began in the Middle East
Mesopotamia
Fertile Crescent
Agriculture and
Domesticated animals

3. Neolithic Era
THINK PAIR SHARE
Why do you think anthropologists believe this to be the most important development in human history??

4. Neolithic Era
What a Neolithic village may have looked like.

5. Neolithic Revolution Revolutionary shift in Human Subsistence!
No more hunting and gathering!
Food became more abundant
Populations began increasing
Cities began to form
More grains + more milk + more
Wool + more meat = More people
Able to survive!

6. Neolithic Era Small clusters of people became Villages
Villages became cities.
This is a vital step in the development of civilization
Earliest cities were:
Jericho, Catal Huyuk, Uruk, Eridu, Ur
Civilizations began forming throughout the world
Cultural Hearths

7. Civilizations What is a cultural hearth?
Culture = the way of life a group of people follow
Hearth = a vital and creative center

8. Civilizations Complex Culture 6 Characteristics of a Civilization
Cities
Governments
Religion
Social structures
Writing
Art

9. Civilizations Cities Government Religion Social Structure Writing Art
Food becomes more abundant, people live closer to each other
Government
Regulate and organize human activity
Religion
Explain forces of nature and roles in the world
Social Structure
Based on economic power
Writing
Keep accurate records, creative expression
Art
Architects, painters and sculptors,

10. Mesopotamia Mesopotamian Civilization Three general areas Sumerians
Assyria, Akkad, Sumer (pg. 15)
Sumerians
Creators of Mesopotamian civilization

11. Mesopotamia Civilization in the Fertile Crescent City States
Between Tigris and Euphrates Rivers
City States
A state with political control over the surrounding countryside
Eridu, Ur, Uruk

12. Mesopotamia Sumerians used mud bricks to build Temple
They invented the Arch and the Dome
Temple
Most important building in the city
Massive stepped tower
Ziggurat
Priests and Priestesses
Temple on a
Ziggurat

13. Mesopotamia Three Classes Nobles Commoners Slaves Royalty, Priests
Farmers, Merchants, Fishermen, Craftspeople
90% of Sumerians were farmers
Slaves
Worked on Buildings

14. Mesopotamia Economy Principally agriculture Industry Trade
Metalwork, textiles, etc.
Trade
Invention of wheel in 3000 B.C. helped