Mr. Belter

Aim: How did the Neolithic Revolution change society?

Do Now: What do you know about cavemen? Jot down up to three bullet points under the title “cavemen”.

What was the Neolithic Revolution?

Lesson Vocabulary

Nomad-

People who move from place to place in search of food.

Cultural Diffusion-

The exchange of ideas, customs, and goods among cultures

Example: Our Music- Since 9/11 there has been a great interest In Arab culture. Artists from Jay-Z, Timberland, Busta Rhymes, 50 cent, and Dr. Dre have used Arabian Music and referenced Arabian themes in their music. Their videos have also have helped diffuse these

cultural messages in our society.

Polytheistic-Believing in many gods.

Monotheistic-

Believing in one god..

Civilization-

Civilizations are characterized by several basic features:

• Cities• Central Governments• Traditional economy• Organized religion• Social classes• Art and Architecture• Roads, bridges, and other public works• System of writing• Specialized jobs

The Paleolithic Age

Paleolithic – Old Stone Age 2 million years ago.• Paleolithic people lived in small hunting and

gathering groups of about 20 to 30 people. Everyone contributed to feeding the group. Men hunted, while women and children hunted and gathered.

Nomads

• Paleolithic people were nomads, they moved from place to place following game animals and ripening fruit.

Cave Paintings

What happened next?

The Last Ice Age

• The last Ice Age ended about 12,000 B.C. The weather became warmer and as the ice glaciers receded (melted) it fed new rivers throughout the northern hemisphere.

• The end of the Ice Age caused the ideal warm weather and water sources for farming.

Ice Age Ends 12,000 B.C.

The Neolithic Revolution

• Neolithic – New Stone Age

• About 10,000 B.C. nomadic women realized how to farm from scattering seeds and discovering plant growth. They discovered farming or agriculture. By producing their own food they could stay in one place.

Effects of Neolithic Revolution

• Farming and the domestication (taming) of animals• Farmers settled into permanent villages instead of

moving around• Food surpluses (extra food) created population

explosions• Settlements and villages began to develop for the first

time.• Specialized jobs developed, since farming took fewer

people and new settlements needed warriors, leaders, businessmen, construction workers...

Neolithic Timeline

Why Was the Neolithic Revolution a Turning Point in

History?

What’s Happening Before the Neolithic Revolution?

What Change Took Place?

What Change took Place?

What Change is taking place?

The Neolithic Revolution

Before• People were nomadic • People gathered plants• People hunted animals• Food shortages• People lived in small bands • People were either hunters

or gatherers

After• People settled down in one

place• People grew vegetables

(farmed)• People domesticated

(tamed) animals• Food surpluses (extra)• Large populations lived in

villages• People farmed and had

many specialized jobs.

Social Class Pyramid

• Priests

• Warriors

• Farmers

• Craftsman

2) New Social Classes• During the Paleolithic Period, which lasts from the beginnings of

human life until about 10,000 BCE, people were nomads. They lived in groups of 20 -30, and spent most of their time hunting and gathering.  In these groups, work was divided between men and women, with the men hunting game animals, and women gathering fruits, berries, and other edibles.

• About 10,000 BCE, humans began to cultivate crops and domesticate certain animals.  This was a change from the system of hunting and gathering that had sustained humans from earliest times. As a result, permanent settlements were established.  Neolithic villages continued to divide work between men and women.  However, women's status declined as men took the lead in in most areas of these early societies.  

Gender roles are now more defined

Costs & Advantages of Agriculture

Advantages Costs•Steady food supplies

•Greater populations

•Leads to organized societies capable of supporting additional vocations (soldiers, managers, etc.)

•Heavily dependant on certain food crops (failure = starvation)

•Disease from close contact with animals, humans, & waste

•Can’t easily leave sites

So What, Mr. Belter?

WHY SHOULD WE CARE ABOUT THE NEOLITHIC REVOLUTION?????

WHY SHOULD WE CARE ABOUT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED SUCH A LONG LONG LONG LONG LONG TIME AGO?????????????

The Neolithic Revolution’s Overall Effect on the World

-The New Stone Age was forever impacted by Agriculture. These changes paved the way for civilizations to emerge.

- The Neolithic Revolution changed the way humans lived.  The use of agriculture allowed humans to develop permanent settlements, social classes, and new technologies.  Some of these early groups settled in the fertile valleys of the Nile, Tigris-Euphrates, Yellow, and Indus Rivers.  This resulted in the rise of the great civilizations in Egypt, Mesopotamia, China, and India.

Activity – Neolithic Advertisement• Answer Questions on Cartoon Document

1. What hardships do the nomads face in the cartoon?

1. Why is the Neolithic way a better way of life?

• Create a advertisement for the Neolithic Revolution in which you try to convince the nomads to go the Neolithic Way.– Be original from the ad we did together

in class – Use color and detail – Make sure your ad addresses the

change in lifestyle that happened during the Neolithic Revolution.

Assessment

• How did people live and get food during the Paleolithic Age?

• How did the end of the last Ice Age cause the Neolithic Revolution?

• What is a food surplus? • How did the Neolithic Revolution change the

way people…– Got their food– Lived– Worked

How did things change after