1. The Neolithic Revolution
The shift from hunting and
gathering to systematic agriculture
and the domestication of animals
Paleolithic humans were nomadic hunters and
gatherers. Hunter-gatherers worked about 20% of
the day to provide enough food to survive. Neolithic
humans lived in permanent settlements with
farmers working about 60% of the day to provide
enough for everyone to survive.
Was the Neolithic Revolution the Biggest Mistake in
Human History?
2. What was What??
The Stone Age
( when humans used tools made from stone )
Paleolithic Period
Neolithic Revolution
Neolithic Period
“Old”
“New”
Stone tools
Something
happened here
that caused
humans to need
new/different
tools
3. The Paleolithic
The Paleolithic Era is prehistoric,
which means there is no record
keeping from this time. What can be
hypothesized from these Paleolithic
artifacts?
4. Neolithic Revolution
Began around 12,000 BCE
Why did it happen?
Climate Change
Scarcity of food
Increasing population
Where did it happen first?
The Zagros Mts. in Eurasia
(in present-day Iran)
It had an ideal climate
and several species of
domesticatable animals,
Including the “Big 5.”
(horse, cow, pig, sheep, goat)
Zagro
s
Where and How did it spread?
China and America developed the NR
independently while Egypt and India
Acquired it from their neighbors.
Australia never had a Neolithic Revolution.
How easy is establishing a Steady
Food Supply?
Not all plants and animals are
edible; most are indigestible, poisonous,
low in nutrition, tedious to prepare,
difficult to gather, or dangerous to hunt.
5. “Neolithic Firsts”
1. Agriculture provides a steady food supply.
2. Animals are domesticated.
Domestication alters the plant or animal
increasing traits that are more desirable.
3. People settle, live together and build
communities. Success leads to fewer nomads.
6. Çatal Höyük
A Neolithic Settlement 7,500 BCE
Relatively egalitarian---no evidence of labor
specialization or gender distinction
Grew cereals,
peas,
domesticated
sheep and
began to
domesticate
cattle.
7. River Valleys- the cradle of civilization
Farmers would settle in river valleys
because they could better irrigate (and
fertilize) their crops
1. Mesopotamia on the Tigris and Euphrates
2. Egypt on the Nile
3. Indus River Valley on the Indus
4. China on the Yellow and Yangtze
Slash and Burn Agriculture uses ashes as fertilizer.
8. Benefits of Neolithic Revolution
1. More protein from domesticated and tamed animals.
1. Animals not only furnish meat but milk, fertilizer and power.
1. Horses also were a vital weapon and would be the major
military vehicle until World War I.
1. Domesticated animals are responsible for the spread of germs
and disease. (pox, measles, flu) Immunity of agriculturalists
helped them push invaders/migrators out of area.
1. Surplus Food Supply from systematic agriculture and
domestication of animals allowed for a rapidly increasing
population
Paleolithic women could carry and protect only one
infant/toddler at a time. Filicide (infant abandonment)
was common. Neolithic women were able to feed
more children and with a stationary lifestyle, they
successfully raised more children to adulthood.
9. Benefits of Neolithic Revolution
6. Because the crops grown by one farmer can supply food for many people,
this Surplus food supply also lead to job specialization: leaders, soldiers,
priests and artisans.
COMPLEX SOCIETIES can now form.
10. The 6 characteristics of a Complex Society
1. Advanced cities
* populations of 10,000 or more
* trade & administrative center
* religious center
11. 2. Specialized Workers
• Lived in cities, fed by surplus food
• Artisans, shopkeepers, soldiers,
bureaucrats, rulers, priests
