The Neolithic Revolution began around 12,000 BCE as some humans transitioned from nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyles to more sedentary agricultural societies, settling in permanent villages. This was driven by climate change, food scarcity, and increasing populations. Early sites included the Zagros Mountains where animals like cows, pigs, sheep, and goats were domesticated. Farming allowed for surplus food and more complex, hierarchical societies to emerge with specialized workers, social classes, governments, religions, and other institutions, leading to early civilizations in places like Mesopotamia, Egypt, India, and China along major river valleys.

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

12. 3. Social Classes
Rulers
and
priests
nobles
Artisansandmerchants
farmers
Slaves
Members of society separated themselves based on perceived
levels of importance and value of contribution.
The pyramid
shows social
esteem and
proportion of
population

13. 4. Complex Institutions:
the long- lasting patterns of organization
* Government
* Religion
* Education
* Military

14. 5. Record Keeping/ Writing
Keeping track of events: time,
business transactions, religious
rituals, tax payments.

15. 6. Advanced Technology
* Monumental architecture
* Public works
* New tools (wheel,
sailboat, plow)