Chapter 1 Part 2 The Neolithic Revolution

M-W PHS

Question

• What are some positive and negative effects of living in an agricultural society vs. hunter gathering?

• Neo = new • Lithic = stone • Neolithic means what?

• New Stone Age

Genographic Map

• http://www.uv.es/jgpausas/he.htm

The Beginnings of Human

“

Civilization

” • Neolithic Revolution

is known for the agricultural revolution.

• A revolutionary change in the development of the human experience.

The Beginnings of Human

“

History

” Two key developments of the human experience (other than the emergence of the species) 1. development of agriculture 2. Industrial Revolution (late 1800 ’ s)

“

Invention

”

of Agriculture

• •

Fertile Crescent

-

Northern Middle East/Black Sea region earliest to adopt agriculture

• Wild animals grazed on grains including ancient wheat and barley .

Human hunters

“

discover

”

tasty food grains.

• Spread of animal and agricultural communities

“

Invention

”

of Agriculture

• • • •

South China and S.E. Asia 7000 BCE

- main grain crop is

rice.

Central America 5000 BCE - corn (maize).

Spread of Agriculture

•

By 5000 BCE farming is THE most common

“

economic system

”

for the largest number of people in the world.

•

Women played a key role because they were the primary gatherers of wild plant foods!

• They identified and cultivated only the largest and best plants

• • • • •

Reasons for slow spread of Ag.

1. Contact with others minimal.

2. Not all regions suitable/more work.

3. Hunting/gathering

“

traditional

”

/easier.

4. Involves

“

settling down

”

.

Social Changes from Agriculture

• • 1.

Redefines + increases work expectations of society especially for men.

• 2.

Redefines gender relations women lose influence in society.

Patriarchal system develops.

Patriarchal System

•

A system where men influence

“

SPICE

”

civilizations the most.

of

• “

Patrilineal

”

means it

’

s the paternal (man

’

s) heritage that defines the society.

• There are a few matrilineal societies but they are rare!

Patriarchal System

• • Reasons it catches on

1. Agriculture permitted and required an expansion of the birthrate- women stay home

•

2. Men became primary worker/cultivator

of the crucial food supply

outside of the home

•

3. Children

put to work in fields early

adapted to the system and saw it as

“

normal

”

.

• Idea of “ wanting many sons ” and obedience to father tended to follow this shift and become norms

Drawbacks of Agriculture

1. Created inequalities between men and women.

2. Clustered communities = easier spread of disease.

3. Damaged the environment - slash and burn agriculture, swidden agriculture

.

Benefits of Agricultural Societies

1. Improved food supply and surplus = population growth.

2. Allowed more free time for people to develop and specialize in art, crafts and new ideas.

3. Invention of new food-based products due to fermentation like alcohol, yogurt, cheese 4. These conditions prevailed from 9000 BCE to 300 years ago!

Egyptian Brewery Sumerian Beer Recipe

Agricultural Society Structure

•

80%

population

work in fields.

• •

Limited tax revenue

(food first “ money ” )

20%

of population

live in city

.

• Farming generates

cultural emphasis on spring season and divine natural forces.

• Surplus of food allows

specialization of labor like pottery making for better storage

Animal Husbandry

• • • • •

The settled raising of animals Milk Meat Labor

•

Hides

• Supplemented diet of villages and towns

Early on animals were NOT objects of worship.

Pastoralism

• •

Different from animal husbandry Societies are mobile

•

Have few possessions

• Pastoralist still remain in many parts of the world!

M&M

’

s

• Imagine you live on M&Ms.

• Over time hunting gets you a few every day.

• Then one day, you find people who have plenty for all. They grow them!

• How would you react?

• Cities become places where M&Ms are everywhere.

• People are drawn to cities because of the wealth and opportunities

Bronze Age

•

The discovery of bronze (copper + tin) marks the end of the Stone Age.

• Harder

tools and weapons made of bronze

replace stone age technology and

propel societies into a new age

!!!