Neolithic Revolution
Alissa Shinder
Background
The Paleolithic period originated at the beginning of human life and continued until 10,000 B.C. During this time, humans lived in groups of twenty to thirty people and obtained their food by hunting and gathering.[1]This form of food obtainment forced humans to travel frequently, which subsequently prevented permanent settlement. The reason for the transition from hunting and gathering to farming and domestication of animals remains unknown. However, there are several theories that attempt to explain why this turning point occurred. One controversial theory is that humans discovered that farming was safer than hunting and gathering.[2] Another controversial theory is that climate changes in the Mesopotamian region reduced the number of animals that could be hunted, and therefore people started farming to obtain enough food for their families.[3]
Turning Point
The Neolithic revolution began in 10,000 B.C. when humans no longer obtained their food by hunting and gathering, but rather started to cultivate crops and domesticate animals.[4] The climate and geography of the Fertile Crescent in Mesopotamia led to the establishment of the first farmers in this area. The natural resources available in the Fertile Crescent were adequate to sustain plant and animal domestication. The Neolithic revolution marks a shift in humanity from consumers of the environment to producers of goods. Therefore, agriculture radically changed the role of humanity within its environment.[5]This establishment of farming and the domestication of animals in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, northern China, Africa, southern Mexico, Guatemala, and Peru, profoundly altered the direction of mankind.[6]
Effect
The Neolithic revolution affected humanity because it changed the way people lived. Farming caused humans to permanently settle. This way of life differed drastically from the constant traveling that occurred when hunting and gathering was the dominant structure in society.[7] As people began to settle in villages, these villages became towns and then cities.[8] The first cities emerged in Mesopotamia and Egypt, which eventually led to the first establishment of civilizations. The development of these cities provided the foundation for the social life that would consequently follow.[9]
During the Paleolithic period, hunter-gatherers made tools from stone, wood, bone, and woven grass. Once farming began at the start of the Neolithic revolution, individuals improved their tools so they could plant, harvest, and store crops more efficiently. The invention of metal tools and plows enabled humans to grow crops on larger areas of land, which subsequently increased the amount of crops that were grown.[10] This increase in crop cultivation facilitated the increase in population size because more food was available. People discovered that they could produce more food from the environment than what they could obtain by hunting and gathering. The adoption of farming enabled the human population to rise from an estimated 8 million present 10,000 years ago, to between 100 million and 300 million at the time of Christ, to 6 billion people in the year 2000.[11]
Although the discoveries of agricultural tools positively catalyzed population growth, these inventions led to social and economic stratification. During the Paleolithic period when hunting and gathering was the dominant model of food obtainment, food was shared between individuals. This communal concept of food supported the equality of humans[12]. In contrast, the invention of the plow in the Neolithic period enabled some individuals to produce more crops than others, which led to class stratification. Individuals who cultivated more crops were able to acquire more land, which enabled them to live a higher quality of life. Humanity at this time began to be organized based on the amount of land that was owned by each individual and family.[13]
The shift from hunting and gathering to farming and domestication of animals represents an alteration in humanity that cannot be reversed. The Neolithic revolution introduced the idea of permanent settlement and class stratification and the population increased as a result of the food obtainment changes. Overall, the Neolithic revolution represents a turning point in the way individuals lived.
[1]Cobb, S. “Farming.” 2003. 104-105.
[2] Facey, W. A Land Transformed. 2006. 31-35.
[3] Zohar, M. Climate change: environment and history of the Near East. 2007.105-106
[4] Cobb, S. “Farming.”
[5] Jones, L. “Agriculture.” 2005. 185-194.
[6] Wengrow, D. What Makes Civilization. 2010. 54-60.
[7] Cobb, S. “Farming.”
[8] Wengrow, D. What Makes Civilization.
[9] Facey, W. A Land Transformed.
[10] Cobb, S. “Farming.”
[11] Munz, R. “Overcrowded world: global population and international migration.” 2009. 30-35.
[12] Pearce, D., Lewis, D. Inside the Neolithic mind: consciousness, cosmos, and the realm of the gods. 2005. 57-60.
[13] Katz, S. “Civilization and Food.” 2003. 418-420.
Bibliography
Cobb, S. “Farming.” Gale Virtual Reference Library. New York. 2003: 104-105.
Facey, W.A Land Transformed.Aramco Services Company. Houston. 2006: 31-35.
Jones, L. “Agriculture.”Gale Virtual Reference Library. New York.2005: 185-194.
Katz, S. “Civilization and Food.”Gale Virtual Reference Library. New York. 2003:418-420.
Munz, R. “Overcrowded world: global population and international migration.” Haus Inc. London.2009: 30-35.
Pearce, D., Lewis, D.Inside the Neolithic mind: consciousness, cosmos, and the realm of the gods.Thames and Hudson. New York. 2005: 57-60.
Wengrow, D. What Makes Civilization.Oxford University Press. New York. 2010: 54-60.
Zohar, M. Climate change: environment and history of the Near East.Springer. New York. 2007:105-106.
Alissa Shinder
Background
The Paleolithic period originated at the beginning of human life and continued until 10,000 B.C. During this time, humans lived in groups of twenty to thirty people and obtained their food by hunting and gathering.[1]This form of food obtainment forced humans to travel frequently, which subsequently prevented permanent settlement. The reason for the transition from hunting and gathering to farming and domestication of animals remains unknown. However, there are several theories that attempt to explain why this turning point occurred. One controversial theory is that humans discovered that farming was safer than hunting and gathering.[2] Another controversial theory is that climate changes in the Mesopotamian region reduced the number of animals that could be hunted, and therefore people started farming to obtain enough food for their families.[3]
Turning Point
The Neolithic revolution began in 10,000 B.C. when humans no longer obtained their food by hunting and gathering, but rather started to cultivate crops and domesticate animals.[4] The climate and geography of the Fertile Crescent in Mesopotamia led to the establishment of the first farmers in this area. The natural resources available in the Fertile Crescent were adequate to sustain plant and animal domestication. The Neolithic revolution marks a shift in humanity from consumers of the environment to producers of goods. Therefore, agriculture radically changed the role of humanity within its environment.[5]This establishment of farming and the domestication of animals in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, northern China, Africa, southern Mexico, Guatemala, and Peru, profoundly altered the direction of mankind.[6]
Effect
The Neolithic revolution affected humanity because it changed the way people lived. Farming caused humans to permanently settle. This way of life differed drastically from the constant traveling that occurred when hunting and gathering was the dominant structure in society.[7] As people began to settle in villages, these villages became towns and then cities.[8] The first cities emerged in Mesopotamia and Egypt, which eventually led to the first establishment of civilizations. The development of these cities provided the foundation for the social life that would consequently follow.[9]
During the Paleolithic period, hunter-gatherers made tools from stone, wood, bone, and woven grass. Once farming began at the start of the Neolithic revolution, individuals improved their tools so they could plant, harvest, and store crops more efficiently. The invention of metal tools and plows enabled humans to grow crops on larger areas of land, which subsequently increased the amount of crops that were grown.[10] This increase in crop cultivation facilitated the increase in population size because more food was available. People discovered that they could produce more food from the environment than what they could obtain by hunting and gathering. The adoption of farming enabled the human population to rise from an estimated 8 million present 10,000 years ago, to between 100 million and 300 million at the time of Christ, to 6 billion people in the year 2000.[11]
Although the discoveries of agricultural tools positively catalyzed population growth, these inventions led to social and economic stratification. During the Paleolithic period when hunting and gathering was the dominant model of food obtainment, food was shared between individuals. This communal concept of food supported the equality of humans[12]. In contrast, the invention of the plow in the Neolithic period enabled some individuals to produce more crops than others, which led to class stratification. Individuals who cultivated more crops were able to acquire more land, which enabled them to live a higher quality of life. Humanity at this time began to be organized based on the amount of land that was owned by each individual and family.[13]
The shift from hunting and gathering to farming and domestication of animals represents an alteration in humanity that cannot be reversed. The Neolithic revolution introduced the idea of permanent settlement and class stratification and the population increased as a result of the food obtainment changes. Overall, the Neolithic revolution represents a turning point in the way individuals lived.
[1]Cobb, S. “Farming.” 2003. 104-105.
[2] Facey, W. A Land Transformed. 2006. 31-35.
[3] Zohar, M. Climate change: environment and history of the Near East. 2007.105-106
[4] Cobb, S. “Farming.”
[5] Jones, L. “Agriculture.” 2005. 185-194.
[6] Wengrow, D. What Makes Civilization. 2010. 54-60.
[7] Cobb, S. “Farming.”
[8] Wengrow, D. What Makes Civilization.
[9] Facey, W. A Land Transformed.
[10] Cobb, S. “Farming.”
[11] Munz, R. “Overcrowded world: global population and international migration.” 2009. 30-35.
[12] Pearce, D., Lewis, D. Inside the Neolithic mind: consciousness, cosmos, and the realm of the gods. 2005. 57-60.
[13] Katz, S. “Civilization and Food.” 2003. 418-420.
Bibliography
Cobb, S. “Farming.” Gale Virtual Reference Library. New York. 2003: 104-105.
Facey, W.A Land Transformed.Aramco Services Company. Houston. 2006: 31-35.
Jones, L. “Agriculture.”Gale Virtual Reference Library. New York.2005: 185-194.
Katz, S. “Civilization and Food.”Gale Virtual Reference Library. New York. 2003:418-420.
Munz, R. “Overcrowded world: global population and international migration.” Haus Inc. London.2009: 30-35.
Pearce, D., Lewis, D.Inside the Neolithic mind: consciousness, cosmos, and the realm of the gods.Thames and Hudson. New York. 2005: 57-60.
Wengrow, D. What Makes Civilization.Oxford University Press. New York. 2010: 54-60.
Zohar, M. Climate change: environment and history of the Near East.Springer. New York. 2007:105-106.