THE NEOLITHIC THE NEOLITHIC (AGRICULTURAL) (AGRICULTURAL)

REVOLUTIONREVOLUTION

Causes and EffectsCauses and Effects

Agricultural RevolutionAgricultural Revolution

Evidence of plant and Evidence of plant and animal domestication animal domestication appears about 10,000 appears about 10,000 years ago in years ago in JerichoJericho and and Catal Huyuk.Catal Huyuk.

Change from hunter-Change from hunter-gatherer societies.gatherer societies.

POSSIBLE CAUSESPOSSIBLE CAUSES

Human population increasedHuman population increased, so more , so more reliable sources of food were needed.reliable sources of food were needed.

Climate changeClimate change… the end of the last “Ice … the end of the last “Ice Age” begins.Age” begins.

The The gradual experimentation by gradual experimentation by gatherersgatherers of wild plants (mostly women) of wild plants (mostly women) led to dependence on plant cultivation.led to dependence on plant cultivation.

EFFECTS EFFECTS

Global population increases. Global population increases. 8,000 BCE8,000 BCE 6-8 6-8 million peoplemillion people to to 1CE1CE 300 million people.300 million people.

Labor dividedLabor divided into into food producingfood producing and and non-food non-food producing jobsproducing jobs. This “specialization” leads to . This “specialization” leads to social classes.social classes.

Women Women loselose status. status. IncreaseIncrease in in diseasesdiseases and higher and higher birth ratesbirth rates.. Increase in technologyIncrease in technology: pottery, irrigation, and : pottery, irrigation, and

metallurgy (metal making).metallurgy (metal making).

Was the “Agricultural Revolution” a Was the “Agricultural Revolution” a good or bad thing?good or bad thing?