Neolithic Revolution

The Beginning of Agriculture Main Idea The development of agriculture was a major turning point in human history and significantly changed the way in which many people lived. Objectives: Students will explore how early agriculture developed and spread. Students will discover how the development of agriculture changed early societies?

Development of Agriculture The development of agriculture, about 10,000 years ago, radically changed how people lived. This shift to farming from hunting/gathering is referred to as the Neolithic Revolution. End of Ice Age New plants (wild grains) New food source People learned to farm Domestication Larger food supply Plants Domesticating animals Careful selection and breeding 10,000 BC – dogs Larger and more stable supply of meat, milk, skins, wool Animals Available plants, domesticated animals Spread to regions: Asia: rice Africa: cattle Mexico: corn South America: potatoes Growth of Agriculture

Agriculture Changes Society Agriculture dramatically changed Stone Age societies by providing a larger and more reliable food supply. Some people began to live as nomadic pastoralists (sheep or cattle farmers) Others gave up the nomadic lifestyle and formed settlements, pooling their resources. Small settlements Villages and towns Increase in trade Societies became more complex Social status, authority Religion, megaliths Warfare, disease increased Early Farming Societies New tools and methods (evolved from the Paleolithic era) Animals working in fields Grindstones, pestles, pottery Wool from sheep for yarn Spinning and weaving Copper, bronze, tin New Technologies

Çatal Hüyuk (cha-TAHL hoo-YOOK) A Neolithic settlement in what is now Turkey Largest Neolithic site found Home to 5,000–6,000 people in 6000 BC Covered more than 30 acres People raised barley, wheat, sheep, goats Houses One main room with areas for sleeping and domestic tasks like cooking Religious shrines