1. The Neolithic Revolution and Early Agricultural Societies

2. Early Agriculture About 10,000 years ago, life began to change
Called the Neolithic Era or “New” Stone Age
People stopped wandering and settled in one place; they shifted from hunting to farming
This time period is called the Neolithic Agricultural Revolution
Revolution (definition)
and-implications.html#lesson

3. The Birth of Farming About 12,000 years ago, the last ice age ended
Glaciers started to melt, ocean levels began to rise
Most plants and animals adapted to these changes; some did not causing people to hunt new animals and rely more on fishing

4. Modifying the Environment
Cleared bushes and trees to grow grass that would attract different animals
Scattered seeds to grow plants

5. 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?

6. Domesticating Plants and Animals
Widespread domestication marked the birth of farming
Plants and crops became a nutritious and reliable
Animals provided food such as eggs, milk, and honey.
Horses and oxen were used for work.
Sheep and llamas coats of hair were used to make clothing.
*Allowed people to live in communities
*Harvested from their environment

7. New Tools Axes used to cut down trees Sickles used to harvest grain
Tools went from being made of stone to materials such as bronze and iron (Bronze Age and Iron Age.) ....Get it?

8. The Spread of Farming The First Centers of Agriculture
Most historians believe that southwestern Asia became the first center of Agriculture around 10,000 years ago.
Spread into Europe and South Asia

9. Farming: 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.)
So Why Did People Switch From Hunting and Gathering To Farming?

10. Costs and Benefits of Farming
Planting crops and herding animals took a great deal of time and energy
Farming was uncertain
Farming was dangerous
Clearing the land for crops could lead to deforestation (definition) which could lead to erosion (definition)
Farming produced food
New material for clothing was established

11. New Ways of Living: New Kinds of Shelter
Farmers found ways to make a permanent shelter
Mixed mud and straw to form walls
Poles and branches made roofs
One of the oldest know farming settlements is a village called Catalhoyuk (shot-l- hoo-yook) in present day Turkey
More than 8,000 years old
Provided water and building materials
Grew grains and raised sheep and
goats
Wall paintings
Catal – Hyuk:
A stone-age village in modern Turkey

12. Drawing of Catal Huyuk

14. New Clothing and Farming
Lighter clothing was worn
Used cotton from cotton plant to weave cloth; Used flax to make linen
Wool and animal hair made yard or thread
Learned how to rotate crops to help keep soil healthy
Surpluses and Specialization
Surplus (definition) could support growing population
Specialization
Trade goods for food
Social organization
Farming communities were small
Social standings did not exist yet (Upper class, middle class, lower class)
Permanent housing led to more possessions which eventually led to different social classes