The development of agriculture around 10,000 years ago, known as the Neolithic Revolution, significantly changed how humans lived. People began domesticating plants and animals, developing new tools for farming, and settling into permanent villages. This led to more complex societies with specialized roles, increased trade, and the growth of towns. The reliable food supply supported larger populations and allowed people to pursue activities other than hunting and gathering.

1. The Beginnings of Civilization Section 2
The Beginning of Agriculture
Preview
• Main Idea / Reading Focus
• The New Stone Age
• Development of Agriculture
• Map: Growth of Agriculture
• Agriculture Changes Society

2. The Beginnings of Civilization Section 2
The Beginning of Agriculture
Main Idea
The development of agriculture was a major turning point in
human history and significantly changed the way in which many
people lived.
Reading Focus
• What new tools and technologies did early humans develop
during the New Stone Age?
• How did early agriculture develop and spread?
• In what ways did the development of agriculture change Stone
Age society?

3. The Beginnings of Civilization Section 2
The New Stone Age
As prehistoric people developed more sophisticated tools,
the Paleolithic Era gave way to the Neolithic Era.
Paleolithic Tools Neolithic Tools
• Stones chipped to make • Polished stones to make
points points
• Wood and bone tools • More specialized tools:
• Nets from plant fibers and – chisels
animal sinew – drills
– saws

4. The Beginnings of Civilization Section 2
Contrast
How did toolmaking in the New Stone Age
differ from toolmaking in the Old Stone
Age?
Answer(s): Old Stone Age—chipped stones to
produce sharp edges; New Stone Age—polished
and ground stones to shape tools

5. The Beginnings of Civilization Section 2
Development of Agriculture
The development of agriculture, about 10,000 years ago,
radically changed how people lived. This shift to farming is
referred to as the Neolithic Revolution.
Plants Animals Growth of
• End of Ice Age • Domesticating Agriculture
• New plants animals • Available plants,
• Careful selection domesticated
• New food source
and breeding animals
• People learned to • 10,000 BC – dogs • Spread to regions:
farm • Larger and more – Asia: rice
stable supply of – Africa: cattle
• Domestication
meat, milk, skins, – Mexico: corn
• Larger food supply – South America:
wool
potatoes

6. The Beginnings of Civilization Section 2

7. The Beginnings of Civilization Section 2
Identify Cause and Effect
How did people benefit from farming and the
domestication of plants and animals?
Answer(s): more reliable food supply; people
could pool labor and resources

8. The Beginnings of Civilization Section 2
Agriculture Changes Society
• Agriculture dramatically changed Stone Age societies by providing a larger and more
reliable food supply.
• Some people began to live as nomadic pastoralists.
• Others gave up the nomadic lifestyle and formed settlements, pooling their resources.
Early Farming Societies New Technologies
• Small settlements • New tools and methods
• Villages and towns • Animals working in fields
• Increase in trade • Grindstones, pestles, pottery
• Societies became more complex • Wool from sheep for yarn
• Social status, authority • Spinning and weaving
• Religion, megaliths • Copper, bronze, tin
• Warfare, disease increased
• As people began to make items from bronze, the Stone Age gave way to the Bronze
Age, which began as early as 3000 BC in some areas.

9. The Beginnings of Civilization Section 2
Çatal Hüyuk
A Neolithic settlement in what is now Turkey
• Largest Neolithic site found
– Home to 5,000–6,000 people in 6000 BC
– Covered more than 30 acres
– People raised barley, wheat, sheep, goats
• Houses
– One main room with areas for sleeping and
domestic tasks like cooking
– Religious shrines

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12. The Beginnings of Civilization Section 2
Ötzi the Iceman
Discoveries added to our knowledge of Neolithic societies
• 1991- hikers discover frozen male body
• Scientific tests performed
• 5,300 years old, from Neolithic Era
Ötzi and belongings well preserved
• Clothes: three types of animal skins stitched together
• Leather shoes, woven grass cape, fur hat, backpack
• Quiver with arrows, dagger, ax with copper blade
Scientists’ theories
• Diet included coarse grains
• Did not live in location where found
• Might have been murdered

13. The Beginnings of Civilization Section 2
Summarize
How did the development of agriculture
affect Neolithic societies?
Answer(s): revolutionary changes; men and
women assumed different roles; led to towns,
government, religion, trade