1. The Neolithic Revolution and Early Agriculture Agricultural Domestication Independent Innovation Cultural Diffusion Civilization Social Stratification

2. Introduction  Ice Age ended about 17,000 years ago  Left warmer temperatures  Higher ocean levels  Grasslands and forests  Human population doubled by 5000 BCE  World population up to 100 million by 1000 BCE  Food was key to the population increase  Food was sustained and stored  Domestication of plants and animals  Agricultural Revolution (8000 BCE): Event over time leading to great change in how life was lived or perceived  Scientists do not know exactly why the agricultural revolution occurred during this period  A rich supply of grain helped support a small population boom  As populations slowly rose, hunter-gatheres felt pressure to find new food sources  In this case, Agricultural Revolution drastically influenced growth of population, and subsequently, civilizations

3. Independent Innovation & Cultural Diffusion  Independent innovation and cultural diffusion led to adoption of agriculture around the world  As societies increased the domestication of animals and plants, techniques were borrowed and handed on  Seeds and crops were also exchanged, increasing what was grown and traded  Agricultural Advantages:  Surplus of food meant more dependable supply  More dependable supply meant greater population growth  Population growth led to social stratification as societies became more sedentary  Specialization of labor and private property are natural results of settled lifestyles  Specialization of labor led to more complex and hierarchical social structures

4. Source: http://www.worldmapsonline.com/UnivHist/30242_ 6.gif http://www.worldmapsonline.com/UnivHist/30242_ 6.gif

5. Questions for Comprehension & Discussion   Why do you think the development of agriculture occurred around the same time in several different place?   In what ways did Neolithic peoples dramatically improve their lives?

6. Environmental Impact  Environmental impact of farming far outweighed that of hunting- gathering  Seeds and animal species selected artificially by humans came to dominate regions  Forest clearing and irrigation vastly increased the “ecological footprint” on the land  Land cleared, ditches made for irrigation, diverted water flow became more common as communities grew over the earth’s surface  Each region featured its own staple crops  In the Nile River Valley wheat, barley, and cotton were common  In China, farmers cultivated millet and wild rice  In Mexico, corn, beans and squash served as the basic diet  Peru tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and white potatoes were cultivated

7. Civilizations  Agriculture required greater effort and organization so long-lasting settlements formed  Early societies grew into civilizations  Civilizations were result of # of factors:  Permanence of population  Agricultural stability  Innovation  Cities grew out of cultural sophistication and social complexity  A city is more than a large group of people living together.  The size of the population alone does not distinguish a village from a city  Cities have specialized workers/artisans  Cities have complex institutions  Some people became responsible for record keeping  Technological innovations  Cities offered:  Protection and defense  Points of trade and economic activity  Centers of political leadership  Enabled exchange of ideas, information, values and religious beliefs

8. Questions to Consider  What accounts for different definitions of civilization?  What precipitated the shift from nomadic to settled lifestyles?  How did the shift from hunting and gathering to agriculture change society?  What impact did geography have on ancient and classical civilizations?