NEOLITHIC REVOLUTION

The Most Important Invention of History

“FARMING LOOKS MIGHT EASY WHEN YOUR PLOW IS

A PENCIL, AND YOU’RE A THOUSAND MILES FROM

THE CORN FIELD.”Dwight D. Eisenhower

WORDS OF WISDOM

WHY IS INVENTION OF FARMING IMPORTANT?

Surplus Food

Stable Food

Increase Population

Labor Specializatio

n

CivilizationAdvances

No Farming No Surplus

Food No Civilization

10,000 BC START OF DOMESTICATION

14120

Domesticated

Species

7.5 Million Animal Species

12200

Domesticated

1,500? Plants Edible by humans

200,000 Plant Species

Women

Men

9000 BC

Grain Barley

6500 BC Rice

3500 BC Corn/Potat

o

9000 BC

Sorghum

4000 BC

Horse 8000 BC

Sheep/Goat8000 BC

OX/Cattle

EFFECTS OF NEOLITHIC REVOLUTION

INCREASED POPULATION NEW SOCIAL STRUCTURES FORMED

Band/Families (Dozens) Tribes (Hundreds) Village/City (Thousands)

Catal Huyuk 5000 BC (Turkey)

City-States (Tens Thousands)

Empire (Multiple City-States)10,000 BC 500 BC

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Population

Millions

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES OF AGRICULTURE?

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES & DISADVANTAGES OF HUNTER/GATHERS?

EFFECTS OF NEOLITHIC REVOLUTION? 5000 BC Agriculture Was Worldwide Agriculture Was Dispersed Unequally Agriculture Went East to West Disease Increased Farmers Slowly Displaced Hunter

Gatherers Specialization of Labor Family Life/Social Structures Change

NEOLITHIC REVOLUTION

The Most Important Invention of History