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The Neolithic Revolution

The Neolithic Revolution. The Biggest Mistake in Human History? Hunter-gatherers work about 20% of the day to provide enough food to survive, farmers work about 60% of the day to provide enough to survive. Why would anyone do this?. The Paleolithic. Hunters and Gatherers.

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The Neolithic Revolution

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  1. The Neolithic Revolution The Biggest Mistake in Human History? Hunter-gatherers work about 20% of the day to provide enough food to survive, farmers work about 60% of the day to provide enough to survive. Why would anyone do this?

  2. The Paleolithic Hunters and Gatherers

  3. Neolithic Revolution Only .1% of plants and animals are edible, most are indigestible, poisonous, low in nutrition, tedious to prepare, difficult to gather, or dangerous to hunt. Began around 12,000 BCE It’s the systematic cultivation of plants and domestication of animals. It introduced settled communities. Where did it happen? Eurasia, Zagros Mts., it had an ideal climate and 9 of the 14 domesticable animals of the world, including the “Big 5.” (America has only 5 domesticable critters ,some places have none) Zagros Zagros Mts. near the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers. Why did it happen? Climate Change? Scarcity of food? Increasing population? China and America developed the NR independently while Egypt acquired it from their neighbors. Australia never had a Neolithic Revolution.

  4. Village Life: living full time in one place. “Neolithic Firsts” Farming: the planting, tending and harvesting of plants for human use. Leads to food surplus. Domestication: altering a plant or animal to better suit human needs.

  5. Çatal HöyükA Neolithic Settlement 7500 BCE Grew cereals, peas, domesticated sheep and began to domesticate cattle. relatively egalitarian---no evidence of labor specialization or gender distinction

  6. N.R. leads to River Valley Societies (civilization) Why here? Animals and plants Problems of domestication: -not nutritious (jellyfish, bark) -dangerous (rhino, crocodile) -feeding (lion, orc) (Some animals can be tamed, but are not domesticated like cats and elephants)

  7. 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. • Food surplus from plants allowing for increased population (nomads keep a baby every 4 years) and longer life. • Surplus also lead to job specialization: leaders, soldiers, priests and artisans. COMPLEX SOCIETIES can now form. • Domesticated animals are responsible for the spread of germs and disease. (pox, measles, flu) Immunity of agriculturalists help them push migrators out of area.

  8. Deadly Gifts from Our Animal Friends • Measles - Cattle • Tuberculosis - Cattle • Small Pox - Cattle (cowpox) • Flu - Pigs and Ducks • Whooping cough - Pigs and Dogs • Falciparum Malaria - Chickens and Ducks

  9. What are the six characteristics of COMPLEX SOCIETIES? (civilizations) 1. Advanced cities -population size (10,000s) - trade/ administrative center - religious center

  10. 2. Specialized Workers • Lived in cities, fed by surplus food • Artisans, shopkeepers, soldiers, officials, rulers, priests

  11. 3. Social Classes Invert these two if talking about China

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

  13. 5.Record keeping/writing Keep track of events, time, business transactions, religious rituals

  14. 6. Advanced Technology • Monumental architecture • Art, public works • New tools (wheel, plow, sailboat,)

  15. A.P. Sample Question I Identify the statement that best begins an explanation of the Neolithic Revolution. A. In Northern Europe, nomadic hunters began to produce more complex stone tools. B. In East Asia, early settlers began using markings on turtle shells and bones as an early form of record keeping. C. In the Middle East, people began to settle in small communities and practice agriculture. D. In Mesoamerica, agricultural settlements saw an expansion of their populations and the beginning of more complex governments.

  16. A.P. Sample Question II More reliable and abundant food supply Job specialization based on a surplus of food Development of a more formal social hierarchy Increased population creating some social pressures as traditional family/clan loyalties broke down All of the above resulted from what cultural change? A. The development of complex government B. The adoption of agriculture C. The development of metal tools D. The growth of complex, organized settlements

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