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The Neolithic Revolution and Early Agricultural Societies. http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0393317552.03.LZZZZZZZ.jpg. Food Production: The Biggest Mistake???. Food production = Hard Work! It often led to: poorer health shorter lifespan harder labor for the majority of people .
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The Neolithic Revolution and Early Agricultural Societies http://images-eu.amazon.com/images/P/0393317552.03.LZZZZZZZ.jpg
Food Production:The Biggest Mistake??? • Food production = Hard Work! • It often led to: • poorer health • shorter lifespan • harder labor for the majority of people
Paleolithic Era • 2 million BCE – about 10,000 BCE • “Old Stone Age” – first use of stone tools until agriculture
The NeolithicRevolution What is this? Where did it happen? When did it happen? WHY did it happen?
What? Neolithic Era • “Agricultural Revolution” = domestication of plants & animals • Village Life • Still stone tools
Where?Fertile Crescent Tigris and Euphrates Rivers • End of Last Ice Age • Warming Climate • Wild grasses abundant • Wild Grasses closest to domesticated varieties
How did Agriculture Develop? • Availability of calories determines how people get food • End of ice age Plants thriving • Humans began “helping” plants along and selecting for traits, to increase calories gathered • Certain plants were abundant and provided many calories=Humans actively chose these • Wheat
What else is needed for a Neolithic Revolution? • Animal Domestication – what is it? • An animal will breed where and when we want it to and often. It will come to us for food. It is not aggressive. • Examples?
Important Domesticated Animals • Horse • Cow • Pig • Sheep • Goat • Chicken • Ox • Indian Elephant • All from Eurasia
What was in the Americas?Only the guinea pig, turkey, and…llamasong.flv
So What? What does the Neolithic Revolution allow?: • A sedentary lifestyle • The need for cooperation and group effort • Job specialization • Social Hierarchies (Social classes) • Patriarchy (Rule by males) • Population Growth
Results for Agricultural Society • Now that you have possessions, what do you have to do? • Kings- to direct • Militaries – to protect • Priests – to protect and record (BUREAUCRATS) • Scribes and writing – to protect and keep accounts • Artisans- make storage vessels (pottery)
Animals + agricultural package = • Military & organizational superiority
Did Everyone Switch? • No. Why not?