The Neolithic Revolution

The Neolithic Revolution The Neolithic Revolution

Prehistory 4,000,000 B.C. --- 8,000 B.C. - This is the timebeforewrittenrecords existed. We have learned about these ancient hominids through their burial sites and their cave drawings.

Homo Sapien Sapiens • Cro-Magnons - (40,000 B.C. - 8,000 B.C.) – • Cro-Magnons were identical to modern humans. • It is believed they may have replaced the Neanderthals who mysteriously vanished. Skull of a Cro-Magnon man.

Homo Sapien Sapiens • The Cro-Magnons had advancedhuntingskills and were able to plan due to heightened language skills. • They also created many carvings and drawings on the sides of caves. Cro-Magnon Tool maker

Cave Drawings Lascaux

Cave Drawings Lascaux This painting is called the “Duck Man.”

Paleolithic Age • Synonym for the “Stone Age” – Time when humans used simple stonetools. • 2,500,000 – 10,000 B.C. Early man crafting stone weapons and tools.

Prehistoric Man • Early man was Nomadic – moved from place to place in search of food and safe lodging. • Hunter/Gather society – men hunted and women gathered plants.

Art and Religion • These may have been matrilineal societies. • Matrilineal Society – traces the family line through the mother, not the father. Many believe these figures are representations of an “Earth Mother” worshipped by early man.

The Neolithic Revolution • Around 8,000 BC, IceAge glaciers began to melt, and the Earth began to warm. • A agricultural (farming), revolution began called the Neolithic Revolution. Neolithic means “New Rock.”

The Neolithic Revolution

The Neolithic Revolution • The shift of hunting of animals and gathering of food to the domestication of animals and the systematic growing of food.

The Neolithic Revolution Domesticate animals and farm food. Hunting and Gathering

The Neolithic Revolution • Systematicagriculture – growing food on a regular basis. • Domestication of animals- adapting animals for human use. • Use of bronzetools. Copper + tin=bronze.

Effects of the Neolithic Age • Food Surplus – plenty of food to survive. • With a foodsurplus, populationincreases and people are able to work at jobsother than farming. • Artisans – Skilledworkers who made things like weapons or jewelry.

Effects of the Neolithic Age • Food was stored, which caused people to specialize in other jobs. • Communities settled in larger cities, and built strongershelters. • Trade began with other people/cultures.

Effects of the Neolithic Age • Culture – The customs or way of life a group of people follow.

Neolithic Farming Villages • Dating back to 7,000 BC Jarmo, in N. Iraq is the oldestNeolithicfarming village. • 100-150 people lived in mud walled huts. They grew a variety of food grains, and domesticated animals. • At Jarmo, they created their own pottery, and made their own tools out of obsidian.

Neolithic Farming Villages • Archaeologist James Mellaart, excavated arguably the firstcity in the world – Catal Hoyuk in Turkey.

Neolithic Farming Villages • From 6700-5700 BC, Catal Hoyuk had a population of up to 6,000 people. • They lived in mud brick houses, farmed many grains, and domesticated animals. Excavation site of Catal Hoyuk in modern day Turkey.

Neolithic Farming Villages Burial site at Catal Hoyuk

Neolithic Structures • Stonehenge in England, was built by Neolithic peoples around 4500-4000 years ago. It is the most famous circle of stones or megalithic monument. Image courtesy of Wikpedia Commons.

Effects of the Neolithic Age • The 1stlargecitiesformed, and the characteristics for a developedcivilization emerged. • Civilization – a complexculture in which a large number of people share the samecharacteristics. View of the 1st Civilization, Sumer

6 Characteristics of a Civilization 1. Growth of Government 2. Religion 3. Writing 4. Artistic Activity 5. Social Structure 6. Rise of Cities

The Neolithic Revolution • Can you think of 3 things that were mastered by man during the Neolithic Revolution? Key Achievements of the Neolithic Revolution

The Neolithic Revolution