The Neolithic Revolution (?)

Books to readBooks to readRobert J. Wenke. Patterns in

Prehistory: Humankind’s First Three Million Years

Charles Keith Maisels. The Emergence of Civilization: From Hunting and Gathering to Agriculture, Cities, and the State in the Near East

The Cambridge Ancient History: Prolegomena and Prehistory

Origins of AgricultureOrigins of AgricultureOrigins of AgricultureOrigins of Agriculture

humans as hunters and gatherers◦Until

dominated by the environment

constant movement the norm

Two points extra on the first test for the person who can tell me within 3 years when this painting was made.

Living area ?Living area ?Living area ?Living area ?tropical areas: one sq.. mile per person

colder climates: 20-30 sq. miles per person

for 30 people: almost 1000 sq. miles

life is “nasty, brutish, and short”

Radical ChangeRadical ChangeRadical ChangeRadical Change

the Neolithic Age (New Stone Age)

radical change in the acquisition of food

humans began to consciously produce food

Neolithic differencesNeolithic differencesNeolithic differencesNeolithic differences

grinding stone tools◦more durable than flint or chert

obtained food wholly or primarily by organized agriculture and/or animal husbandry

rather than hunting and gathering

Flaked stonePolished stone

Most important changeMost important changeMost important changeMost important change

organized agriculturesedentary life-stylebased on farming a few simple crops

for surplus

When and Where?When and Where?When and Where?When and Where?

Middle Eastabout 10,000 B.C.near the end of the last ice age

How did it happen?How did it happen?How did it happen?How did it happen?some single genius?accident?in human history: never

underestimate stupidity and accident

the genius is the one who figures out how to really screw up productively

What did humans know?What did humans know?What did humans know?What did humans know?

empirically aware of the natural cycle of plants?

plants come from seeds?they need water and sunlight?

same time, same place, each year?

Why did it take so long?Why did it take so long?Why did it take so long?Why did it take so long?traditional explanation: no incentive

hunter and gatherers maintain small populations

infanticide, abortion, lactation taboos

lacking stimulus for radical change?

Problems and AdvantagesProblems and AdvantagesProblems and AdvantagesProblems and Advantagesfood supply is at the mercy of the elements

food supply is more varied and healthy

food supply requires less work to acquire

nomadic lifestyle avoids disease

Why the Shift?Why the Shift?Why the Shift?Why the Shift?

end of the Ice Age: climate and environment change?

population growth

Alternative theoriesAlternative theoriesAlternative theoriesAlternative theories

accidentaccident and stupidityaccident and good luck

Other reasons for slow change?Other reasons for slow change?Other reasons for slow change?Other reasons for slow change?number of plants suitable for domestication

3,000 of 200,000 plants are suitable

depending on climate and local

only 30 (or so) are of major importance

Domestic plants? (Domestic plants? (sedentary sedentary agricultureagriculture))Domestic plants? (Domestic plants? (sedentary sedentary agricultureagriculture))

four grasses: wheat, maize, rice, sugar

starches: potatoes, yam, manioc, banana

legumes: lentils, peas. wetches, beans, peanuts, soybeans

Evolution of WheatEvolution of Wheat

Area for natural growth of Area for natural growth of wheatwheat

Map of natural area for Map of natural area for barleybarley

Natural range of sheepNatural range of sheep

Natural Range of CowsNatural Range of Cows

Transitional Period: Cult Transitional Period: Cult center at Gobekli Tepe in center at Gobekli Tepe in TurkeyTurkey

Sanctuary circlesSanctuary circles

Domestic animals? (Domestic animals? (pastoralismpastoralism))Domestic animals? (Domestic animals? (pastoralismpastoralism))

not manyand how exactly do you domesticate them, anyway?

So why did people change?So why did people change?So why did people change?So why did people change?why leave a relatively casual

hunting-and-gathering lifefor the seven-days-a-week life of

a farmerforced to do so by climatic

change?forced to do so by gradual (over

the centuries) population growth ?

accidental by-product of trade ?

Advantages ?Advantages ?Advantages ?Advantages ?

support more people per sq. mile

security

ChangeChangeChangeChange

between 10,000 and 2,000 years ago

most humans switched to organized agriculture

in whole or in part

Origins of early spread of Origins of early spread of agricultureagriculture

Agriculture and Population Agriculture and Population GrowthGrowth

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

3000BCE

2000BCE

1000BCE

500 BCE

Population (millions)

Location: early originsLocation: early originsLocation: early originsLocation: early origins

Asia MinorPalestineIranian Plateau

Surplus Food and Surplus Food and the Specialization of Laborthe Specialization of LaborEmergence of villages and townsDiscoveries at Çatal Hüyük, Turkey,

occupied 7250-5400 BCETremendous range of manufactured

products◦ Pottery, Jewelry, Textiles, Copper tools

Development of crafts

Catal Huyuk ca. 9,5000 B. C.

Still Hunting…..Still Hunting…..

Interior Sacred SpaceInterior Sacred Space

House in Catal Huyuk

Catal Huyuk:

Their view

The Boss?

Location: later, large-scaleLocation: later, large-scaleLocation: later, large-scaleLocation: later, large-scale

the Middle EastChinaIndiaCentral America (eventually, but later still

Early methodsEarly methodsEarly methodsEarly methods

slash-and-burnincipient agriculturein the Middle East: from 9,500 B.C. to about 7,500 B.C.

longer in the Western hemisphere

Varieties of AgricultureVarieties of AgricultureVarieties of AgricultureVarieties of AgricultureMiddle East: wheat, barley, the rye

Africa: rice, milletMediterranean: olive, barley, wheat, millet, grapes

Iranian plateau and India: same as M. East

China: rice

Varieties of Agriculture: con’tVarieties of Agriculture: con’tVarieties of Agriculture: con’tVarieties of Agriculture: con’t

N. America: beans, squash, maize

C. America: beans, squash, maize, chili peppers, avocado, tomatoes, etc..

S. America: manioc, potatoes, sweet potatoes,

Areas of unfavorable climateAreas of unfavorable climateAreas of unfavorable climateAreas of unfavorable climate

stock raisingpastoral nomadsa variety of animals

Impact of AgricultureImpact of AgricultureImpact of AgricultureImpact of Agriculture

sedentary existencethe Neolithic village

Jarmo, Northern Iran, 6000 B.C.

Abu Hureyra Northern Syria

9600 B.C.

The mound

Pit houses

Neolithic house at Hassuna

Hansa bowl

Halaf Bowl

The Great Tower

Jericho

southern Palestine

ca. 9000 B.C.

Wall painting from Jericho

Low productivityLow productivityLow productivityLow productivity

gradual awareness of ◦types of soil◦fertilizer◦crop rotation

ProblemsProblemsProblemsProblems

poor harvestsdisease (human waste and garbage)

relationships with pastoral nomads

accurate measurement of time

shortage of suitable land

LifeLifeLifeLife

life expectancy: very low (lower ?)

birth rates: high (because of predictable food)

higher standard of living (We have Stuff!!)◦pottery, extra clothing and

possessions◦textiles: from natural fibers

Social Organization: VillagesSocial Organization: VillagesSocial Organization: VillagesSocial Organization: Villages

nuclear family: man, woman, children

extended family: two or more married couples and their children

clans: groups of familiestribes: inhabitants of the villages of a given region

Extended FamilyExtended FamilyExtended FamilyExtended Family

more suitable for village economic life

more hands to workmore efficient at planting and harvest

more intensive labor

Relations between men and womenRelations between men and womenRelations between men and womenRelations between men and women

egalitarian Catal Huyuk: women enjoyed equal status in agriculture and crafts

higher status in religion?art: mother, then daughter, then son, then finally, father

ReligionReligionReligionReligionfertilityspecifically: fertility of womenboth directly and as metaphor for the world

fertility figuresMore complex, but still

◦A method of explanationA technology of control

Female fertility figure

Neolithic age

Female fertility figure

Neolithic Age

Stonehenge , Salisbury Plain England

clock, calender, landing pad for alien spacecraft?

Crazy Horse: Shaman of Crazy Horse: Shaman of the Oglala Lakota the Oglala Lakota

Amazonian ShamanAmazonian Shaman

Shaman: supreme shaman Shaman: supreme shaman of Tuva Peopleof Tuva People

Newgrange, Ireland neolithic tomb

ca. 3100 B.C.

A dolmen. Ireland

The Historical PeriodThe Historical PeriodThe Historical PeriodThe Historical Period

begins with the development of such communities