The Neolithic Revolution

World History

1. The Neolithic Revolution The shift from hunting and gathering to systematic agriculture and the domestication of animals Paleolithic humans were nomadic hunters and gatherers. Hunter-gatherers worked about 20% of the day to provide enough food to survive. Neolithic humans lived in permanent settlements with farmers working about 60% of the day to provide enough for everyone to survive. Was the Neolithic Revolution the Biggest Mistake in Human History ?

2. What was What?? The Stone Age ( when humans used tools made from stone ) Paleo lithic Period Neolithic Revolution Neo lithic Period “Old” “New” Stone tools Something happened here that caused humans to need new/different tools

3. The Paleolithic The Paleolithic Era is prehistoric , which means there is no record keeping from this time. What can be hypothesized from these Paleolithic artifacts?

4. Neolithic Revolution Began around 12,000 BCE Why did it happen? Climate Change Scarcity of food Increasing population Where did it happen first? The Zagros Mts. in Eurasia (in present-day Iran) It had an ideal climate and several species of domesticatable animals, Including the “Big 5.” (horse, cow, pig, sheep, goat) Zagros Where and How did it spread? China and America developed the NR independently while Egypt and India Acquired it from their neighbors. Australia never had a Neolithic Revolution. How easy is establishing a Steady Food Supply? Not all plants and animals are edible; most are indigestible, poisonous, low in nutrition, tedious to prepare, difficult to gather, or dangerous to hunt.

5. “Neolithic Firsts” Agriculture provides a steady food supply. 2. Animals are domesticated. Domestication alters the plant or animal increasing traits that are more desirable. 3. People settle, live together and build communities. Success leads to fewer nomads.

6. Çatal Höyük A Neolithic Settlement 7,500 BCE Relatively egalitarian---no evidence of labor specialization or gender distinction Grew cereals, peas, domesticated sheep and began to domesticate cattle.

7. River Valleys- the cradle of civilization Farmers would settle in river valleys because they could better irrigate (and fertilize) their crops Mesopotamia on the Tigris and Euphrates Egypt on the Nile Indus River Valley on the Indus China on the Yellow and Yangtze Slash and Burn Agriculture uses ashes as fertilizer.

8. Benefits of Neolithic Revolution More protein from domesticated and tamed animals. Animals not only furnish meat but milk, fertilizer and power. Horses also were a vital weapon and would be the major military vehicle until World War I. Domesticated animals are responsible for the spread of germs and disease. (pox, measles, flu) Immunity of agriculturalists helped them push invaders/migrators out of area. Surplus Food Supply from systematic agriculture and domestication of animals allowed for a rapidly increasing population Paleolithic women could carry and protect only one infant/toddler at a time. Filicide (infant abandonment) was common. Neolithic women were able to feed more children and with a stationary lifestyle, they successfully raised more children to adulthood.

9. Benefits of Neolithic Revolution 6. Because the crops grown by one farmer can supply food for many people, this Surplus food supply also lead to job specialization: leaders, soldiers, priests and artisans. COMPLEX SOCIETIES can now form.

10. The 6 characteristics of a Complex Society 1. Advanced cities * populations of 10,000 or more * trade & administrative center * religious center

11. 2. Specialized Workers Lived in cities, fed by surplus food Artisans, shopkeepers, soldiers, bureaucrats, rulers, priests

12. 3. Social Classes Rulers and priests nobles Artisans and merchants farmers Slaves Members of society separated themselves based on perceived levels of importance and value of contribution. * Farmers who supply the food that everybody needs somehow hold very little esteem in their societies. The pyramid shows social esteem and proportion of population

13. 4. Complex Institutions : the long- lasting patterns of organization * Government * Religion * Education * Military

14. 5. Record Keeping/ Writing Keeping track of events: time, business transactions, religious rituals, tax payments.

15. 6. Advanced Technology * Monumental architecture * Public works * New tools (wheel , sailboat, plow)