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The Neolithic Revolution

The Neolithic Revolution. AKA The Agricultural Revolution, and pre-conditions for urbanization. What could be a catalyst for a society to make a major change in their way of life? What conditions need to exist to promote increased invention, development of art, sciences, writing, etc.?.

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The Neolithic Revolution

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  1. The Neolithic Revolution AKA The Agricultural Revolution, and pre-conditions for urbanization

  2. What could be a catalyst for a society to make a major change in their way of life? • What conditions need to exist to promote increased invention, development of art, sciences, writing, etc.?

  3. Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs

  4. Domestication of Plants • Begins around 10 000 BCE in the Fertile Crescent, around the Tigris and Euphrates rivers • Rivers + fertile land + hospitable climate

  5. Long dry season with short period of rain • People selected plants with bigger seeds, better taste • Pioneer crops / Neolithic founder crops • Emmer (wheat) • Einkorn (wheat) • Barley • Lentil, pea, chickpea, flax, bitter vetch • Figs

  6. In Iran, about 6000 BCE, first evidence of irrigation • Dug small channels to bring water from rivers • Crops become reliable • Begin to harvest surpluses, so require storage • First granaries – 9500 BCE in the Jordan Valley • Populations become more sedentary as a result

  7. Why? • Different theories about what spurred this change • Display of power through abundance • Natural evolutionary stage • Result of a cognitive leap – once people understand their own mortality, they fear death and start looking for increased security

  8. Domestication of Animals • Dogs may have already been domesticated – evidence this may have happened as early as 33 kya (evidence in Altai mountains) • Why?

  9. Mostly comes after sedentary food production • No longer follow herds, so need to keep animals close • Selected based on size, temperament, diet, mating pattern, lifespan • Milk producers like cows and goats are very valuable, as they have a double yield (milk + meat) • Working animals important • Provide leather, wool, fertilizer

  10. Just like seeds, selected for desirable traits • With selection, traits changed • Animals grew bigger, produced more milk, changed in colour, etc. • Sheep – 11 000-9000 BCE • Pig – 9000 BCE • Goat – 8000 BCE • Cow – 8000 BCE • Cat – 7500 BCE • Horses, camels – 4000 BCE • As populations spread and moved in response to climate change, they brought these animals with them

  11. Results • Historians used to view these changes as completely positive, but new research shows a mixed picture • Nutritional standards were lower at first, which led to shorter lifespan, lower average height • Specialization of labour – more people supported on a smaller land base, so some freed from food production for other jobs – leads to other advances • Increased social stratification and gender inequality • Living closely with animals leads to increased disease resistance (ex. Smallpox, influenza) • Surpluses lead to trade system

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