Neolithic Revolution
Neolithic Revolution
• Neolithic = New Stone Age
Neolithic Revolution
• Neolithic Revolution
–A.k.a. Agricultural Revolution
• Agriculture = Farming
–Also, domestication of animals
The Environment
• Temperatures increase
–Ice age ends
–More useable land
Invention of Farming
Major Changes
• Nomadic clans form settled villages
• Greater populations
• Extra time not devoted to food
production
• New problems to worry about
#1: Solutions?
• People work not on food but for food
• Perform useful, new jobs
• They become specialized workers
–Perhaps artisans
#2: Solutions?
• Need someone to:
–Lock and guard the food
–Count it
–Give it out
• (you also have to invent record
keeping, writing, and counting)
#3: Solutions?
• Do you share equally with everyone?
• Do you own your land, or does your
clan own it?
• Where do you get your tools?
#4: Solutions?
• Laws, police, courts…
• You’ve just invented institutions, like
the government
Neolithic Advances
• New art!
–Pottery
–Baskets
Neolithic Advances
Better tools!
–Including the use of metal (Bronze)
Neolithic Advances
More food!
WHY?
Neolithic Advances
• More people!
WHY?
Neolithic vs. Paleolithic
Neolithic vs Paleolithic
Neo=new; Lithic=stone. Neolithic era is
also call the New Stone age.
Meaning
Paleo=old; Lithic=stone. The Paleolithic
era is also called the Old Stone age.
Mud bricks supported by timber
Dwelling
Mouths of caves, huts, skin tents
Sedentary....They farmed in permanent
settlements and raised/herded animals;
agriculture was discovered and became
a major source of food; families
evolved.
polished stone tools made sharper by
grinding
Lifestyle
Nomadic; in groups of up to 50; tribal
society; hunters and gatherers
Animal skins, woven garments
Clothes
Military and religious leaders had
authority. Monarchy emerged.
The concept of private property and
ownership emerged for things such as
land, livestock and tools.
Tools
Chipped stone, wooden weapons, light
stone tools (not sharpened)
Animal skins
Governance Tribal society. Clan controlled by elders
or the powerful (according to age)
Economy
There was no concept of private
property.
Neolithic vs Paleolithic
Neolithic people were shorter and had
lower life expectancy. Diseases like
tooth cavities and typhoid emerged in
the new stone age. Neolithic women
had more children because the life style
was no longer nomadic.
Wall paintings
Health
Art
Paleolithic people were taller and lived
longer than Neolithic people.
Cave paintings
Stone, clay (baked)
Sculpture
material
Stone, mammoth ivory, reindeer horn
Agriculture and tools with polished
stones, the plow
Main
Discovery
Fire; Rough stone tools
They grew crops such as corn, wheat,
beans, etc.
Food
Hunted and gathered for their food
supply.