1. Chapter 2 Section 2
The Neolithic Age

2. I. Facts
Neolithic (New Stone Age) about 8000 B.C. people changed from food gatherers to food producers.
Neolithic Revolution – when food was obtained from farming and herding – changed the way people lived

3. II. Farmers and Herders
People discovered that seed from wild grain (wheat and barley) could be planted and harvested.
Southwestern Asia – wheat, barley
Southeastern Asia - millet, rice, soy beans
Mexico – corn, squash, potatoes,
Africa - peanuts, grain (sorghum)
People could herd animals when they built fences and chased animals into a ravine.
Animals became domesticated (tamed – and unafraid of humans)
Began breeding animals
Donkeys, Camels, llamas were used as pack animals.
Neolithic Revolution – increased food = increased population
Year 8000 B.C. = 5 million people
Year 4000 B.C. = 90 million people
People began living longer

4. III. Early Villages
Once people produce food, they began to settle in one place
Villages (with shelters) people in an area with good soil and water supply
Jericho (present day Israel) 8000 B.C. oldest village in Southwestern Asia
Abu Hureyra (present day Syria) 7500 B.C.
Catal Huyuk (present day Turkey) B.C.
Fire preserved wood and cloth items so archeologists know a lot of information about this village.
Houses – sun dried mud brick, flat roofs made of reeds and mud
Post and lintel – architectural contribution (horizontal length of wood or stone placed across two upright poles.)
2-3rooms with no doors. Hole in roof was entrance (use ladder).
Houses were crowded together on side of hill.
Floors – covered with rushes (grass like plants) sleeping plat forms were covered with mats.
Open court yards with large ovens
Vegetable gardens, apple orchards, fields of grain, and pastures (sheep and cattle) were beyond the houses.

5. IV. Specialization
Specialization (development of occupations) potters, weavers, metal workers. They exchanged their goods for grain, fruit and meat.
Pottery – made from clay, carried and stored food, cooking use. (Soups and Stews)
Weave Cloth – wool spun into thread then woven on a loom, died cloth bright colors (clothing)
Work Metals – made beads, jewelry and weapons out of copper, lead, gold, and silver lumps. ( stone, bone, and wood – were still used more.)

6. V. Government
Land ownership caused government to become more complex. (boundaries were set and land was passes down to children)
Single chief was chosen – he would settle disputes (with the help of a small group) and direct village activities

7. VI. Religion
Chiefs were also priests – offered prayers for rich soil, healthy animals, water for crops.
Forces of nature were prayed to first, then gods and goddesses were created to respresent these forces.
Earth Mother- goddesses of fertility (alters for the goddess were found in Catal Huyuk)
Separate places of worship were built at this time