The document discusses the advantages of the Agricultural Revolution and the development of civilization. The Agricultural Revolution led to surplus food production, larger permanent settlements, and allowed people to specialize in tasks other than hunting and gathering. This eventually resulted in the development of civilization, characterized by advanced cities with specialized workers and trade, complex institutions like government and religion, record keeping systems, and advanced technologies to make tasks easier. Ur in ancient Iraq is provided as an example of an early civilization that had trading, farming, housing, irrigation, government, and religion around 3,000 BC.

1. Civilization

2. Advantages of Agricultural Revolution Surplus of food The amount of food was no longer limited to the fortune of nature. Could build larger communities The greater production of food meant that more people could be supported.

3. Make permanent settlements You didn’t have to move around anymore. You could stay in one place. Some people can do things other than survival tasks It’s no longer the case that everybody has to be hunting or gathering. Folks can specialize in making pots or tools or art or being the boss. Trade goods Communities started interacting and exchanging stuff.

4. As you can imagine, the Neolithic/Agricultural Revolution starts leading to civilization. Whazzat?

5. Eventually, civilization starts to develop. What are the hallmarks of civilization? Advanced cities Not just a bunch of people, but a center of trade for an area as well as a production center for goods Specialized workers Now that not everybody has to be hunting and gathering all the time (only a smaller segment of the population is needed for this), some folks can do other things, like make baskets, jewelry, weapons, pots, etc.

6. Complex Institutions Organizational entities, such as religious groups and government. Record Keeping Keeping a record of activities of the city – this also required a system of writing. Cuneiform is an early example. There’s hieroglyphs in Egypt. Advanced Technology Using tools and such that make tasks easier.

7. Ur is an example of early civilization. It’s in modern-day Iraq, but at the time it was Sumerian. They traded, farmed, had houses, irrigation, government, religion, etc. It was thriving around 3,000 BC