1. Opener – 5 minutes
Copy the these terms/definitions into your notebook:
Agrarian – type of society or culture based around farming and raising livestock.
Neolithic Era – means “new stone age”; refers to period when humans came to live in agricultural communities.
Agricultural Revolution – turning point that began about 10,000 years ago when humans began to live in settled communities and raise plants and animals.

2. Previous lessons What were the key features of foraging communities?
What would a day in the life for someone living in a foraging community?
What tools would they have used?
What type of activities would be the most important during the day?
What type of home would they have had?
How big would a community be and who would be in it?
What questions do you still have about humans in the foraging era?

3. Paleolithic Age For much of the Paleolithic Age the Earth was cold.
Much of the landmasses were tundra.
About 15,000 years ago, a “Great Thaw” occurred.

4. The End of the Paleolithic Age
During the “Great Thaw”:
Glaciers shrank
Sea levels rose
Continental shelves disappeared
Temperatures increased
Plants, forests, and large expanses of vegetation grew

5. The End of the Paleolithic Age
With more vegetation, animals began to flourish.
So many natural resources that humans began to settle for long periods of time.
What changes the “Great Thaw” might have helped produce for humans?

6. Handout 1: Artifact Observation Sheet
Look at the artifacts that were found near the Dnieper and Dneister Rivers.
What do you think these artifacts are?
What observations helped you make this guess?

7. Handout 1: Artifact Observation Sheet
Do the items look heavy?
Do you think the items would be difficult to carry over long distances?
Work with a partner to answer the remaining questions on the worksheet.

8. Handout 1: Artifact Observation Sheet
These artifacts come from settled, farming (agrarian) communities.
The artifacts represent our first historical “turning point” in this class.
A shift from most people foraging to most people farming.

9. Agricultural Revolution
We will be examining the Agricultural Revolution.
A time when some foraging humans began to farm and settle in one place for very long periods of time.

10. Agricultural Revolution
Began about 10,000 years ago.
Changes were gradual and took place over thousands of years.

11. Agricultural Revolution
People in some areas intensified their use of one spot to find, and gradually, produce food.

12. Agricultural Revolution
This shift was not a conscious choice made by one group of people, but something that unfolded over a long period of time.

13. World History Timeline
Look at the World History Timeline in your booklet.
What eras are covered in this timeline?
Era of Foragers
Agrarian Era
Industrial Era
According to the timeline, what “turning point” in World History will we be examining?
Work with a partner to complete all the questions on the “World History Timeline Interpretation Guide”.

14. The Development of Agriculture Across Time and Space
What is your favorite fruit or vegetable?
How long do you think people have been growing and eating these products?
You are now going to explore some of the first crops ever purposefully cultivated by humans.
Work with a partner to complete the handout.

15. Closure Quiz Answer the following questions:
Include at least 2 pieces of evidence from your handouts, notes or textbook to support each of your answers.
What is needed for humans to live as foragers?
What would humans need to live in a village?
What environmental changes might have changed how humans lived?
If humans spent nearly 200,000 years living as foragers, why did they begin farming and staying in one place?