The Development of Agriculture Neolithic Revolution The Development of Agriculture

Neolithic Revolution “Neolithic” is Greek for “new stone” Neolithic Age: Humans achieved the systematic growing and storing of food Systematic agriculture: Planting and domesticating crops for food, clothing, and work Some historians believe that this agricultural revolution was the single most important event in history (?)

Results Allowed humans to greater control their environment Now possible to give up nomadic ways of life and settle into communities Developed all over the world 8000-5000 BCE

New settlements Mesoamericans grew beans, squash, and maize (corn) Permanent Neolithic farming villages Jericho, Palestine Çatal Hüyük (world’s largest) included at least 12 food products Çatal Hüyük [chaht-l-hoo-yoo k] Modern-day Turkey

Surplus Increased food production + storage = Way more food than people needed Allowed some people to do work other than farming…example? Artisans made jewelry and weapons These items fostered trade

Changes Shrines to and statues of gods and goddessesm Religion gaining importance More complex communities developed Trade caused people to specialize Division of labor developed Basic crops were first cultivated Cloth first woven

Changes (continued) Men Women More active in farming and herding Women More domestic tasks like weaving How did this affect their roles in society? Men played more dominant role (more responsibility for obtaining food and protecting settlements)

Widespread use of Bronze: Bronze Age 4000-3000 BCE, people learned to use metals Used copper Copper + Tin = Bronze Widespread use of Bronze: 3000 to 1200 BCE

Cities Government Art Civilization Social Structure Religion Writing

Civilizations Definition: A complex culture in which large numbers of human beings share a number of common elements. Historians have identified the 6 most important characteristics: Cities, governments, religion, social structure, writing, and art

CITIES River Valleys: where people can carry on large-scale farming to feed large populations In ea. Civilization, a significant part of the pop. lived in cities

Government Organize and regulate human activity What factors led to the growth of governments? Growing numbers of people Need to maintain food supply Need to build walls for defense Early Civs. were led by rulers (king/queen)

Role of Religion Developed to explain: the workings of the forces of nature own existence Gods and goddesses believed to be crucial to community’s success Some rulers claimed to be divine

Farmers, artisans, craftspeople New Social Structure Based on economic power Ruler Priests, gov. officials, warriors Farmers, artisans, craftspeople Slaves

Writing Used by rulers, priests, merchants, and artisans to keep accurate records Eventually all civilizations used writing as a means of creative expression as well (first works of literature)

Artistic activity Temples and pyramids built as place for worship, sacrifice, burial of kings, etc. Painting and sculpture developed to portray gods and goddesses or natural forces

Art