Key Concept 1.2 The Neolithic Revolution and Early Agricultural Societies

1. Key Concept 1.2The Neolithic Revolution and Early Agricultural Societies 10,000 BCE to 600 BCE

2. Outline • Main Idea • The Neolithic Revolution • New and more complex social and economic systems • Emergence of agriculture in societies • Pastoralism • Domestication of crops and animals • Impact on environment • Transformation of human societies • Food supply and population growth • Surplus and specialization of labor • Technological innovation • Accumulation of wealth

3. Main Idea The Neolithic Revolution and the resulting changes from hunter-gatherer to agrarian societies profoundly altered patterns of human civilization.

4. The Neolithic Revolution • Societies founded during this time were the foundation of the River Valley civilizations. • Why did it start? • Need for a long-term reliable source of food • Experimentation • Need for organization • By accident

5. New and more complex social systems • The Neolithic Revolution began the era of permanent societies. • Demographic of farmers less diverse than demographic of hunters • Gender roles became more prevalent • Reliance on land gave way to political organization • Political organization caused social organization

6. Emergence of Agriculture in Societies • Around 8000 BCE humans began to plant crops • Usually in river valleys • Started in Southwest Asia • Mesopotamia • Also: • Nile River • Yellow (Huang) River Valley • Indus River Valley • Mesoamerica • Andes Mountains Note that this did not happen globally and concurrently, meaning that people didn’t start planting all over the world at the same time. -China was 2000 years behind Mesopotamia -In the Andes and Mesoamerica, around 2500 BCE

7. The Agricultural Revolution • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yocja_N5s1I&list=PLBDA2E52FB1EF80C9

8. Pastoralism • The raising of livestock • Developed at various sites in the grasslands of Afro-Eurasia • http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/neolithic-agricultural-revolution-causes-and-implications.html

9. Domestication of crops and animals • This happened in various core regions • Dependent on available local flora and fauna • Examples • Maize, beans, squash • Rye, wheat, barley • Potato • Teff • Rice • Quinoa • Various marine animals and snails • Sheep, goats, yaks, llamas • Animals were used for • Protection • Food • Hunting • Diseases were increasingly transferred between humans and animals

10. Impact on environment • Pastoralists grazed large numbers of animals on fragile grasslands • Erosion • Soil overused • Deforestation • Animals more suited to human needs • Animal husbandry

11. Transformation of human societies • Agricultural communities had to work cooperatively to clear land and create the water control systems needed for crop production.

12. Food supply and population growth • Food supply used to be unreliable • Pastoralism and agriculture led to more reliable and dependent food sources • Population growth—people lived longer and had more kids, who in turn had kids • Positive feedback loop

13. Surplus and specialization of labor • The population growth was a factor in the development of the world’s first cities • Class distinctions • More leisure time • Loyalty to leadership • Female labor • New classes of artisans and warriors • Development of elites

14. Technological Innovations • Farming equipment • Irrigation canals • Metallurgy • Bronze • Iron • Food surpluses and storage

15. Accumulation of Wealth • As elite groups reaped the benefits of agriculture and pastoralism… • Hierarchal social structures • Patriarchy • Families and marriages • Role of men and women • Male domination • Social classes emerging and solidifying • Evidence from burials