- Pre-AP World History –
Pre-History and the Neolithic Revolution
Tuesday, 8/28/2012
Charles A. Mims, M.S.
Scope and Sequence
• Over the course of this year, we are going to study the
history of the development and evolution of the human
society, economy, civilization, and various
cultures/religions.
• This course covers over 10,000 years of human history,
and it will include such time periods as “pre-history”, the
“ancient world”, the “middle world”, and, finally, the
“middle world”.
• Contrary to popular opinion of social studies, we are not
simply going to watch videos and color papers.
• We will study and divulge the “secrets” of human past.
• We will focus on the BIG PICTURE, not merely glance at
the minute, insignificant details of our past.
Pre-History
• Let’s take a look at the first time period that
we’re going to examine this semester…
Key Vocabulary
• Before we can really go any further, it’s
important that you all gain a firm grasp of the
vital vocabulary for this unit of study.
• With a partner, please copy down these nine
(9) words on a sheet of paper.
• I’m going to pass out some copy paper to each
group so that we can have a little fun while
learning our vocabulary…
Key Vocabulary (Cont.)
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Neolithic
Revolution
Neolithic Revolution
Periodization
Domestication
BC and AD
BCE and CE
Agrarian
Irrigation
Neolithic
• pertaining to, orcharacteristic of the last phas
e of the Stone Age, marked bythe domesticati
on of animals, the development ofagriculture,
and the manufacture of pottery and textiles
Revolution
• an overthrow or repudiation and the thorough
replacement ofan established government or
political system by the peoplegoverned.
Neolithic Revolution
• the origin and consequences the introduction
ofagriculture, domestication of animals, and a
more sedentary life during the later part of th
eStone Age
Periodization
• an act or instance of dividing a subject into
historical eras forpurposes of analysis and
study.
Domestication
• to tame (an animal), especially by generations
of breeding,to live in close association with hu
man beings as a pet orwork animal and usuall
y creating a dependency so that theanimal los
es its ability to live in the wild.
Agrarian
• pertaining to the advancement of agricultural
groups
Irrigation
• the artificial application of water to land to ass
ist in theproduction of crops.
BC and AD
• BC and AD is a way in which historians refer to
a certain time period, based on religion. BC,
which stand for Before Christ, is known as the
time before he was born. AD, which stands for
Anno Domini, is known as “the year of our
Lord”.
BCE and CE
• BCE, which means Before Common Era, refers
to the time prior to the “Christian Era”. CE,
which means Common Era, refers to the
“Christian Era”.
Back to the topic at hand…
• Now that we have a better grasp of the key
vocabulary of this section, we can further our
study of the Neolithic Agricultural Revolution.
• Let’s take a closer look at what human beings
might have been like and how they lived prior
to this revolution…
Pre-Neolithic Man
Did he look like this?
Pre-Neolithic Man
Or perhaps like this…
Pre-Neolithic Man
• The truth of the matter is that historians,
archaeologists, anthropologists, and
geographers all agree that pre-neolithic man
was not any different from you or I, physically.
• Actually, the only difference between us is the
world in which we live.
• Early man, known as “hunter-gatherers” lived
in a world void of technology, large-scale
society, economy, religion, etc.
Hunter – Gatherers
Hunter-Gatherers
• The earliest humans were exactly what
scientists have named them, hunters and
gatherers.
• They were dependent on the weather,
seasons, migration patterns, and the land to
survive.
• They had not yet domesticated the animals
and land around themselves.
Early Agrarian Society
Change
• So what do you think caused the change from
hunter-gatherers to agrarian farmers???
• The hunter-gatherer lifestyle was successful.
• In fact, it lasted from ~8,000-5,000 BC.
• Why do you think that a system that had
worked so well for so long was eventually
overthrown?
Change
• Let’s think about a domino effect.
• Once one of the dominos falls, it’s going to
trigger the toppling of all the other dominos.
• Well, the neolithic agricultural revolution is
very similar to the domino effect.
• One great idea led to another and another
and another.
Change
• The domestication of plants and animals was
first.
• This change led to other changes.
• Eventually, advanced farming societies began to
spring up out of nowhere.
• People who once were competing for resources
were living together sharing the fruits of their
labor.
• Inventions were created out of necessity to make
life even easier.
• Before long, our species had begun the
evolutionary movement that led to us.
The Neolithic Revolution
Farming
Houses
The Neolithic Revolution
Tools
Domestication
The Neolithic Revolution
Irrigation
Periodization
Periodization
• Life, as early man knew it, was forever changed.
• As farming societies grew, civilizations emerged.
• These civilizations were large, bigger than any
family clan or group of families the earth had
ever seen.
• These large-scale communities required some
basic necessities to run smoothly.
• What sort of things can you think of that make
our urbanized lives possible today?