1. Section 1 – Early Agriculture
Chapter 2
Section 1 – Early Agriculture

2. Key Terms
Revolution – a complete change in ways of thinking, living, or working
Domesticate – Change the growth of plants or behavior of animals in ways that are useful to humans
Surplus - extra
Specialization – act of concentrating on a limited number of goods or activities

3. The Birth of Farming
People adapted to the changing climate by learning to farm

4. Modifying the Environment
People learned that if they scattered seeds, plants would grow

5. Domesticating Plants and Animals
Widespread domestication marked the birth of farming
Domesticated plants became a reliable source of food

6. Spread of Farming
No one knows for sure where farming originated

7. First Centers of Agriculture
Most historians believe Southwestern Asia was the first center of agriculture

8. Cost and Benefits to Farming
Transition from hunting and gathering to farming was a slow process
Planting crops and herding animals took time and energy
If crops fail due to weather, a family might starve

9. Continued… Farming produced more food Required less land
People built permanent homes because of farming

10. New kinds of Shelter
Used a mixture of mud and straw to form walls

11. NEW KINDS OF CLOTHING
Hunter-Gatherer societies depended on animal fur, farming brought new materials that were lighter and easier to work with.
Example:
Flax
Cotton
Wool
Silk

12. Surpluses and specialization
As crops and herds improved, farmers could raise a surplus
When there is a surplus, everyone doesn’t need to farm
Those people become specialized workers
Example:
Tool makers
Weavers
metalworkers

13. Social Organization Early farmers had to work together
They discuss what to plant, and when to harvest
They discuss how to protect the community

14. Chapter 2 Section 2
Cities and Civilizations
Page 90

15. City of Uruk Considered the worlds first city
Founded around 6,000-7,000 years ago
Uruk had one of the first complex governments

16. Centers of wealth Uruk also had a complex economy
Uruk’s economy was based on faming, and trade
The wealth of the city attracted people to the city

17. The importance of resources
Early civilizations depended on creating a food surplus
The most important resources were fertile soil, water, and seeds
However, these were not important if there was not people there to manage the resources

18. Settings of Early Civilizations
Earliest civilizations appear in southwestern Asia
River valleys provide a good setting for permanent settlements

19. Features of Civilizations
Cities
Organized governments
Established religions
Job specialization
Social classes
Public works
Arts and Architecture
System of writing

20. Cities Early cities emerged near farming centers
Food surplus led to population growth
Cities were centers of religion, government, and culture

21. Organized Government Government managed cities resources
Formed and trained armies

22. Established Religion Religion was linked to government
Rulers usually claimed their right to rule from their gods

23. Job Specialization Most people were farmers
Priest specialized in religious practice
Rulers and soldiers specialized in keeping peace and protecting the city
Merchants specialized in buying and selling goods

24. Social Classes Class structure resembles a pyramid
Small number of people with the most power at the top
Largest number of people with the least power at the bottom

25. Social Classes Highest class Priest and rulers Middle Class
Farmers, Merchants, and Skilled workers
Lowest Class
Slaves

26. Public Works Government Projects Road work Water system City walls
Granaries

27. System of Writing Early writing system was used to record numbers
Eventually they recorded laws, prayers, and described their rulers