1.2 The Neolithic Revolution and Early Agricultural Societies
10,000 years ago- end of the last Ice Age
I. Neolithic Revolution or "Agricultural Revolution" - beginnings of settled agriculture and domestication of animals for food and labor. This sparked the development of new and more complex economic and social systems.
Agriculture: domestication of plants for food. I.e. wheat from the Fertile Crescent, rice from Southeast Asia. Made it possible to support larger populations for less work than hunting and gathering.
I. Neolithic Revolution or "Agricultural Revolution" - beginnings of settled agriculture and domestication of animals for food and labor. This sparked the development of new and more complex economic and social systems.
Agriculture: domestication of plants for food. I.e. wheat from the Fertile Crescent, rice from Southeast Asia. Made it possible to support larger populations for less work than hunting and gathering.
"Jared Diamond." Jared Diamond. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2015. <http://www.faculty.rsu.edu/users/f/felwell/www/Theorists/Essays/Diamond1.html>.
Early Agricultural Developments (Arose at different times):
- Nile River Valley
- Huang He Valley / Yellow River
- Indues River Valley
- Mesoamerica
- the Andes
- Papua New Guinea (island north of Australia)
- Mesopotamia
Pastoralism- domestication of animals and leading them around grazing areas. They are VERY important in cultural diffusion as they are highly mobile and make contact with different agricultural societies very often.
"S T R A V A G A N Z A: THE ANCIENT EGYPTIAN CATTLE CULT." S T R A V A G A N Z A: THE ANCIENT EGYPTIAN CATTLE CULT. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2015. <http://stravaganzastravaganza.blogspot.com/2011/05/origins-of-ancient-egyptian-cattle-cult.html>.
Agricultural practices and pastoralist greatly affected the environment around them by clearing out land and overgrazing on fields respectively.
II. Agricultural and Pastoralism: began to transform human societies
Successful agriculture and pastoralism equals more food!! This sparked the increase of human population.
Developments of specialization of labor- where certain groups perform certain task. Not necessarily fair in the end, i.e. hard labor with minimum payment. But it did lead to the development of new classes such as artisans and warriors.
Successful agriculture and pastoralism equals more food!! This sparked the increase of human population.
Developments of specialization of labor- where certain groups perform certain task. Not necessarily fair in the end, i.e. hard labor with minimum payment. But it did lead to the development of new classes such as artisans and warriors.
"62 Specialization of Labor." HistoryOhYa -. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2015. <http://historyohya.wikispaces.com/62+Specialization+of+Labor>.
Important technological innovations:
Example:
- Farming- plows, bronze and metal tools
- Trade- pottery, woven textiles
- metallurgy
- Transportation- wheels and wheeled vehicles
Example:
"Ancient Egyptian Social Classes | Travel." Before It's News. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Apr. 2015. <http://beforeitsnews.com/travel/2014/01/ancient-egyptian-social-classes-2460366.html>.