Neolithic Revolution Neolithic Revolution

Neolithic Neolithic RevolutionRevolution

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What is the Neolithic What is the Neolithic Revolution???Revolution???

A A revolutionrevolution is a drastic change… is a drastic change…

• the invention of agriculturethe invention of agriculturechanged the way peoplechanged the way peoplelived forever.lived forever.

• One of the greatest One of the greatest breakthroughs in our breakthroughs in our history!history!

What was life like before What was life like before the Neolithic Revolution?the Neolithic Revolution?

(2.5 million to 8,000 B.C.)(2.5 million to 8,000 B.C.)

• The first humans were The first humans were nomadicnomadic, they wandered , they wandered from place to place, from place to place, foragingforaging for new sources for new sources of food.of food.

• Hunter-gatherers Hunter-gatherers were were nomadic groups whose nomadic groups whose food supply depends on food supply depends on hunting animals and hunting animals and collecting plants collecting plants and and berries (foraging).berries (foraging).

Before the Neolithic Revolution…Before the Neolithic Revolution…

The first inventions by humans were The first inventions by humans were simple, stone tools simple, stone tools to help them to help them increase their food supplyincrease their food supply Invented to meet their survival needsInvented to meet their survival needs

spear/blade hammer stone hand axespear/blade hammer stone hand axe

Paleolithic Art: Paleolithic Art: cave painting, jewelry, sculpturecave painting, jewelry, sculpture

Role of Women…Role of Women…

Duties:Duties:Gathering plants, nuts, Gathering plants, nuts, berries, cooking the berries, cooking the food over fire, making food over fire, making clothes and shelter, clothes and shelter, taking care of children taking care of children and the tribal and the tribal communitycommunity

Before the Neolithic Revolution, family Before the Neolithic Revolution, family structure was matriarchal, with women structure was matriarchal, with women having a very important role in societyhaving a very important role in society..

What was the Neolithic What was the Neolithic Revolution?Revolution?

• Neolithic age means “New Stone Neolithic age means “New Stone age.age.

• The revolution was a shift from the The revolution was a shift from the hunting of animals and gathering hunting of animals and gathering food to the raising of animals and food to the raising of animals and growing food.growing food.

What was life like AFTER What was life like AFTER the Neolithic Revolution???the Neolithic Revolution???

(8,000-3,000 B.C.)(8,000-3,000 B.C.)

• Agriculture was Agriculture was discovereddiscovered

• Life shifted from Life shifted from food-gathering to food-gathering to food-producingfood-producing

• Permanent Permanent settlements were settlements were createdcreated

What caused the Neolithic What caused the Neolithic Revolution?Revolution?

• Change in climateChange in climate– Rising temperatures would provide Rising temperatures would provide

longer growing season and drier landlonger growing season and drier land• Larger populations Larger populations

of people required of people required a larger amount of a larger amount of foodfood– Farming provided a Farming provided a

steady source of foodsteady source of food

After the Neolithic After the Neolithic Revolution…Revolution…

DomesticationDomestication of of animalsanimals Taming animals such as Taming animals such as

horses, dogs, goats, and horses, dogs, goats, and pigspigs

PastoralPastoral: Watch over and : Watch over and herd animalsherd animals

AgrarianAgrarian Lifestyle LifestyleRural, Agricultural, Rural, Agricultural,

PastoralPastoral

After the Neolithic Revolution…After the Neolithic Revolution…

People began using People began using subsistence subsistence agricultureagriculture Growing enough food Growing enough food

to feed your family to feed your family or community.or community.

Not for sale or trade!Not for sale or trade!

People began to change People began to change their environment to their environment to meet their needsmeet their needs

Ex.- Ex.- IrrigationIrrigation Systems SystemsTo artificially supply land with To artificially supply land with

waterwater

Effects of the RevolutionEffects of the Revolution

• Some people became artisans – Some people became artisans – crafted weapons and jewelry.crafted weapons and jewelry.

• Communities began to form Communities began to form common cultures.common cultures.

• Common cultures eventually formed Common cultures eventually formed the first civilizations.the first civilizations.

Farming develops in many Farming develops in many places…places…

(usually around fertile river valleys)(usually around fertile river valleys)

Mesopotamia: Tigris and Euphrates Mesopotamia: Tigris and Euphrates River ValleyRiver Valley

China: Yellow River ValleyChina: Yellow River Valley Egypt: Nile River ValleyEgypt: Nile River Valley India: Indus River ValleyIndia: Indus River Valley

***Why do you think the first ***Why do you think the first settlements began in river valleys?settlements began in river valleys?