The The Neolithic Neolithic RevolutioRevolutio
nn
Foundations Lesson 2Foundations Lesson 2
Main Ideas:Main Ideas:• Revolution:Revolution: fundamentalfundamental change change
• History hinges on major transitionsHistory hinges on major transitions—can be positive or negative—can be positive or negative
• Rise of farming led to dramatic Rise of farming led to dramatic changes in human lifechanges in human life
• Rise of agriculture not universalRise of agriculture not universal
Maslow’s Hierarchy Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needsof NeedsSelf- Self-
ActualizationActualization
EsteemEsteem
Love/BelongingnessLove/Belongingness
SafetySafety
PhysiologicalPhysiological
Maslow’s Hierarchy Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needsof Needs
• Some key aspects of Maslow:Some key aspects of Maslow:– Each level somewhat dependant on Each level somewhat dependant on
the previous level(s)the previous level(s)– Upper-levels of hierarchy = more Upper-levels of hierarchy = more
“civilized”“civilized”– “ “All the liberty in the world doesn’t All the liberty in the world doesn’t
matter if a man can’t find food to eat.”matter if a man can’t find food to eat.”
• How does man get past Level 1?How does man get past Level 1?
The Neolithic The Neolithic RevolutionRevolution• Also “1Also “1stst Agricultural Revolution” Agricultural Revolution”
• Begins around 10,000 B.C.E.—most Begins around 10,000 B.C.E.—most successful in river valleys successful in river valleys
• Occurs exclusively in a global belt Occurs exclusively in a global belt between the Tropic of Cancer & the between the Tropic of Cancer & the Tropic of CapricornTropic of Capricorn
Guns, Germs, & Guns, Germs, & SteelSteel• Jared Diamond, environmental
physiologist, UCLA• The Question: “Why do [Western
peoples] have so much ‘cargo’?” (and thus come to control the world)
• The Thesis: “Progress” is directly correlated to environment.
The ProcessThe ProcessOccurs in the world’s “temperate Occurs in the world’s “temperate
zone”zone”
The ProcessThe Process
Abundance of species, Abundance of species, most of which most of which
propagate easilypropagate easily
The ProcessThe Process
Of available species, Of available species, some are domesticablesome are domesticable
The ProcessThe Process
Domestication leads to Domestication leads to food surpluses & food surpluses &
storagestorage
The ProcessThe Process
More food = more people! More food = more people! Development of complex Development of complex
societiessocieties
Ancillary FactorsAncillary Factors• Disease & ImmunityDisease & Immunity
– proximity to animalsproximity to animals– densely populated societiesdensely populated societies
• Complex SocietiesComplex Societies– Specialization of LaborSpecialization of Labor
• TechnologyTechnology– Due to specializationDue to specialization
The Results…The Results…• By 3000 B.C.E., large agricultural By 3000 B.C.E., large agricultural
societies were thriving in river valleyssocieties were thriving in river valleys– MesopotamiaMesopotamia
– EgyptEgypt
– IndiaIndia
– ChinaChina
– Mesoamerica (1000 B.C.E.)Mesoamerica (1000 B.C.E.)
HOMEWORK!!HOMEWORK!!• Read excerpt from Diamond’s Read excerpt from Diamond’s
Guns, Germs, & SteelGuns, Germs, & Steel – Make sure you understand the flow Make sure you understand the flow
chart from pg. 87—compare with chart from pg. 87—compare with “Process” from notes“Process” from notes
– Hi-lite key points relating to the Hi-lite key points relating to the chartchart