The Neolithic Revolution and Early Agricultural Societies http

The Neolithic Revolution and Early Agricultural Societies http: //images-eu. amazon. com/images/P/0393317552. 03. LZZZZZZZ. jpg

Food Production: The Biggest Mistake? ? ? • Food production = Hard Work! • It often led to: – poorer health – shorter lifespan – harder labor for the majority of people

Paleolithic Era • 2 million BCE – about 10, 000 BCE • “Old Stone Age” – first use of stone tools until agriculture

Life of Paleolithic Humans

The Neolithic Revolution What is this? Where did it happen? When did it happen? WHY did it happen?

What? Neolithic Era • “Agricultural Revolution” = domestication of plants & animals • Village Life • Still stone tools

Where? Fertile Crescent Tigris and Euphrates Rivers • End of Last Ice Age • Warming Climate • Wild grasses abundant • Wild Grasses closest to domesticated varieties

How did Agriculture Develop? • Availability of calories determines how people get food • End of ice age Plants thriving • Humans began “helping” plants along and selecting for traits, to increase calories gathered • Certain plants were abundant and provided many calories=Humans actively chose these – Wheat

Where & When? Location Dates (B. C. E) Plants Animals Southwest Asia (Fertile Crescent) 9000 -7000 Barley, wheat, lentils, figs Goats, sheep, cattle, pigs China 6500 -5000 Rice, millet, soybeans Pigs, chickens, water buffalo Saharan and Sub. Saharan Africa 3000 -2000 Sorghum, millet, yams, teff Cattle (perhaps 8000 B. C. E) Highland New Guinea 7000 -4000 Taro, bananas, yams, sugarcane Andes region 3000 -2000 Potatoes, quinoa, manioc Llamas, alpaca, guinea pig Mesoamerica 3000 -2000 Maize, squash (perhaps 7000 B. C. E), beans Turkey Eastern woodlands of North America 2000 -1000 Sunflower, goosefoot, sumpweed

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?

Important Domesticated Animals • • Horse Cow Pig Sheep Goat Chicken Ox Indian Elephant • All from Eurasia

What was in the Americas? Only the guinea pig, turkey, and… llamasong. flv

So What? What does the Neolithic Revolution allow? : – A sedentary lifestyle – The need for cooperation and group effort – Job specialization – Social Hierarchies (Social classes) – Patriarchy (Rule by males) – Population Growth

Results for Agricultural Society • Now that you have possessions, what do you have to do? • Kings- to direct • Militaries – to protect • Priests – to protect and record (BUREAUCRATS) • Scribes and writing – to protect and keep accounts • Artisans- make storage vessels (pottery)

Animals + agricultural package = • Military & organizational superiority

Did Everyone Switch? • No. Why not?

River Valley Civilizations: Called that for a reason!

Eurasian Steppe (grasslands)

African Savannah

Inuit Lands