The Neolithic Revolution and the Rise of Civilization

The Neolithic Revolution The end of the Ice Age was the beginning of the Neolithic Revolution What does revolution mean? definition: A sudden or momentous change in a situation What does neolithic mean? it is Greek for “new stone” neo = new lithic = stone period lasted from 8000 to 4000 B.C.E.

The Neolithic Revolution, cont What was the sudden change? shift from hunting/gathering to keeping of animals and the growing of food on a regular basis, called systematic agriculture domestication (taming) of animals adaptation for human use meat, milk for food wool for clothes and shelter labor for the farm domestication of plants people can grow crops on farms example of domestication: wolf to dog

Something to think about… What types of crops do you think are grown at this time?

The Growing of Crops 8000 B.C.E. – the Middle East has domesticated wheat, barley, pigs, cows, goats, and sheep 7000-5000 B.C.E. – Wheat and barley become established in India; beans, squash, and maize (corn) are grown in Central America 6000 B.C.E. – Wheat and barley has spread from the Middle East to Egypt 5000 B.C.E. – Rice is grown in Southeast Asia and spreads to China 4000 B.C.E. - Farming is well established in Southern and Central Europe

Something to think about… In what part of the world do you think the first settlements would be?

What is this a picture of?

Neolithic Farming Villages Permanent settlements developed with growing crops on a regular basis Appeared in Europe, India, China, Mesoamerica (Central America) Oldest and biggest settlements are in the Middle East Example: Çatal Hüyük (6700-5700 B.C.E) in modern-day Turkey 6000 people living in mud brick houses at height of the city people grew their own food and kept storerooms in their homes

Neolithic Farming Villages, cont. Because of food production, people usually had more food than they needed right away they had surplus (amount or a quantity in excess of what is needed) food surpluses allowed some members of society to give up farming and take up skilled labor artisan – a skilled craftsperson who makes products such as weapons and jewelry Shrines and statues found in Çatal Hüyük show that religion is becoming more important to Neolithic peoples

Çatal Hüyük today

Consequences of Neolithic Revolution villages → trade → specialization / division of labor Gender structure of society hunter-gather societies: rough equality between men and women agricultural societies: men – farming and herding; women – children, weaving cloth, etc. men became more dominant as they worked to obtain food and protect the settlement

End of Neolithic Age Artisans had discovered how to heat and work metal circa 4000 B.C.E. – Copper Age 3000-1200 B.C.E. – Bronze Age copper + tin = bronze harder, more durable than copper Stone was slowly being replaced with metal for use in tools and weapons ask students to describe copper and what it is used for today.

The Emergence of Civilization The culture of a people is the way of life they follow As societies grow and become more complex, they develop into civilizations A civilization is a complex culture in which large numbers of human beings share a number of common elements. There are eight basic characteristics that a society must have in order to be called a civilization

1. Cities A significant part of the population will live in a society’s cities The first civilizations began in river valleys these areas could support the large-scale farming needed to feed a large population

2. Governments Factors in the formation of the first governments: growing numbers of people the need to maintain the food supply the need to build walls for defense Govt jobs: organize and regulate human activity allow smooth interaction between individuals and groups The first civilizations’ governments were usually lead by monarchs (kings or queens who rule a kingdom) Monarchs organized armies and made laws

3. Specialized Labor With the increased availability of food, people are able to diversify their production A man who specializes in one product can trade his goods for others needed The people who specialized in new products became known as Artisans, or craftsmen What products would be examples of this?

4. Social Structure Social structure is based on economic power upper class = rulers, priests, govt officials, warriors lower (free) class = farmers, artisans, craftspeople slave class organized trade grows urban areas export finished goods urban areas import raw materials transfer of technology between cities draw a pyramid on the board to illustrate the class system. the size of the levels corresponds to the number of people belonging to that class

5. Monumental Building Civilizations built their new cities in grand proportions never seen before Workers constructed large palaces, temples, marketplaces, courtyards, and burial sites

6. Record Keeping/Writing Rulers, priests, merchants, and artisans used writing to keep records Eventually, writing was used for creative expression exception: Inca of Peru used memory experts

7. Trade Civilizations engaged in long-distance trade Methods of transportation included rivers, camel routes, and horse-drawn carts What would have been traded among these early civilizations?

8. Science/Art Beginning forms of anatomy, chemistry, medicine, math Mostly religious in nature temples and pyramids were built as places of worship, sacrifice of the burial of rulers painting and sculpture were developed to portray gods, goddesses, and natural forces

* Religion All early civilizations developed religions Purpose: to explain forces of nature and their own existence gods and goddesses were believed to be important to the success of the community Priests oversaw rituals designed to please gods/goddesses, which gave them power Rulers claimed either to have the gods’ approval to rule or to be a god themselves

Analyze how the 8 rules of civilization apply to the United States and write one example for each.