Neolithic Revolution

The Neolithic Revolution took place approximately 12,000 years ago. It is characterized by the gradual emergence and development of agriculture and civilization.

This period began in the geological epoch of the Holocene, which is part of the Quaternary period of the Cenozoic Era of Earth's geological time scale. At that time, global temperatures were rising, marking an end to the Pleistocene epoch (the Ice Ages). Milder climates developed across the planet, which allowed for greater plant growth.

This period is characterized by the transition from hunter-gatherer societies to predominately agriculture and settlement lifestyles. The use of stone tools and the making of pottery, the development of permanent settlements, the domestication of animals and plants, the cultivation of grain and fruit trees, and the introduction of weaving all came about during the Neolithic Revolution. The spread of agriculture during this period, which is also known as the New Stone Age, led to greater knowledge of food and plant life. It also made it possible for humans to introduce plants and animals into new environments, forever changing the relationship between mankind and the natural world. Neolithic Revolutions occurred in different parts of the world independently and at slightly different times.

Origins of Agriculture

The emergence of agriculture is the dominant component of the Neolithic Revolution. Earth's climate began stabilizing around 12,000 years ago. This weather change was significant enough to give plants and animals the opportunity to flourish in a number of regions across the globe. Historians believe the first farming occurred in areas where wild forms of plant and animal life were found and capable of reproducing. Wild wheat and barley originated in a region known as the Fertile Crescent, located in the Middle East in what is present-day Iraq, Iran, Syria, Kurdistan, Turkey, Lebanon, and Israel. This area is considered the earliest known site of agriculture, dating somewhere between 8500 to 8000 BCE. These areas also saw growth in domestic goat and sheep species after the climate moderated. Inhabitants took advantage of these plentiful resources and began cultivating them for future use. In addition to wheat and barley, humans began cultivating oats and certain grasses, which provided nourishment for larger groups of people.

Access to reliable food resources led to the development of permanent settlements. Many humans abandoned the nomadic lifestyle, which is reliant on hunting, gathering, fishing, and frequent relocation in pursuit of game. Though warmer climates most certainly contributed to the spread of agricultural societies, the switch can also be seen as a result of increased need due to population growth. The availability of food changed the breeding habits of humans. Nomadic lifestyles were not well suited to large families. Sedentary living, however, allowed women to give birth more often because this lifestyle provided a greater chance of infant survival. Permanent settlements learned to maintain this way of life, furthering the development of agriculture as populations continued to grow.

Spread of Agriculture and Birth of Urbanization

As the Middle East grew hotter and drier, farmers migrated to regions that were more fertile. They often brought their animals with them, distributing domesticated animals to other parts of the globe. Though this migration led to the introduction of farming in areas nearest to the Middle East, other areas of the globe experienced independent Neolithic Revolutions at various periods in time. The New World experienced its Neolithic Revolution between 7000 BCE. and 6500 BCE, Europe between 6500 and 6000 BCE, Asia between 6000 BCE and 5000 BCE, and Africa about 5000 BCE. Agricultural societies became the predominant mode of living for humans at the end of this roughly 8,000-year period. By then humans had developed tools to help them complete their farm work and other settlement requirements. These instruments included flint points, stone axes, and terra cotta spindles for weaving sheep's wool or flax. The rise of agricultural societies also led to the beginnings of urbanization, or the development of civilizations. Urbanization is characterized by at least one of the following: the growth of large permanent communities, skilled labor, walled enclosures distinguishing cities from villages, housing built from long-lasting materials, and the formation of streets and so forth. Pre-urban villages and towns existed at the earliest stages of urbanization, but great civilizations did not begin appearing until the rise of Sumerian civilization in the Mesopotamian area of the Middle East.

This Urban Revolution, as many scholars call it, commenced about 3500 to 3000 BCE. Cities sprawled during this era. Some settlements contained thousands of people and developed advanced forms of labor and tools. By approximately 3000 BCE the first cities of the Sumerian civilization had grown to cover about one hundred acres, making them the biggest settlements of their time. Most scholars consider the Sumerian settlement of Eridu to be the first true city in human history. The famous Sumerian city of Ur emerged shortly after Eridu. These cities were located in the most fertile areas along the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers, an advantage that contributed to their prosperity.

Living in large settled populations has some drawbacks, however. Disease spreads faster in close quarters. Domesticated animals spread diseases such as influenza, smallpox, measles, and malaria to humans. Large concentrations of waste material and no systems of sanitation also made humans susceptible to harmful bacteria and infections. Fixed settlements also relied on the plants and animals domesticated to a region. Some people survived on unbalanced diets and developed weakened immune systems, making them more vulnerable to disease.

Despite some drawbacks, societies continued to flourish across the globe as a result of food surpluses. This period marked the end of the Neolithic Revolution as the discovery of smelting and the invention of bronze tools led to the Bronze Age.

Bibliography

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