REVIEWREVIEW

Unit 4 Unit 4

Agricultural and Urban Agricultural and Urban RevolutionsRevolutions

(objective exam over Units 3 and (objective exam over Units 3 and 4 will be on Friday, essay – 4 will be on Friday, essay –

extended response portion will extended response portion will be tomorrow (Tuesday).be tomorrow (Tuesday).

Unit 4 – Agricultural and Urban Unit 4 – Agricultural and Urban RevolutionsRevolutions

Agricultural (Neolithic) Revolution:Agricultural (Neolithic) Revolution: Definition: when humans began to settle Definition: when humans began to settle

down to raise their own domesticated down to raise their own domesticated crops and animals crops and animals

Began perhaps as long as 20,000 years Began perhaps as long as 20,000 years ago but at least by 13,000 years agoago but at least by 13,000 years ago

Permanent living sites (settlements) began Permanent living sites (settlements) began to appear in various parts of the world to appear in various parts of the world about 13,000 years agoabout 13,000 years ago

Agricultural (Neolithic) Revolution, Agricultural (Neolithic) Revolution, con’tcon’t

Pastoralism: the process of raising Pastoralism: the process of raising domesticated animals (herding, raising goats, domesticated animals (herding, raising goats, sheep, etc.)sheep, etc.)

Crops raised by people and the regions Crops raised by people and the regions associated with them:associated with them:

1.1. Africa: Yams and teffAfrica: Yams and teff2.2. North America: sunflowersNorth America: sunflowers3.3. South America: bean and potatoesSouth America: bean and potatoes4.4. Mesoamerica: maiseMesoamerica: maise5.5. Southeast Asia: riceSoutheast Asia: rice6.6. Middle East and South Asia: barley and wheatMiddle East and South Asia: barley and wheat

Neolithic Revolution, con’tNeolithic Revolution, con’t

The The environmentenvironment and and terrainterrain influenced influenced what crops were cultivated (some crops what crops were cultivated (some crops needed more water, a particular type of needed more water, a particular type of soil, temperature mattered)soil, temperature mattered)

Question to considerQuestion to consider (using reason and an (using reason and an example): example): Was the Agricultural Was the Agricultural Revolution a strategy (plan) that Revolution a strategy (plan) that allowed the development of larger allowed the development of larger communities OR did the develop-ment communities OR did the develop-ment of larger communities demand the of larger communities demand the security of a more predictable food security of a more predictable food source?source?

Agricultural Revolution, Agricultural Revolution, con’tcon’t

Why did humans turn to agriculture (as opposed to Why did humans turn to agriculture (as opposed to continuing as hunters and gatherers)?continuing as hunters and gatherers)?

Disadvantages:Disadvantages: practicing agriculture and pastoralism practicing agriculture and pastoralism was harder and more time consuming than foraging; early was harder and more time consuming than foraging; early on, they had a more limited diet than what they had as on, they had a more limited diet than what they had as foragers foragers

Advantages:Advantages: practicing agriculture made it possible to practicing agriculture made it possible to produce a greater quantity of food in a smaller area; these produce a greater quantity of food in a smaller area; these crops could be manipulated to become more productive; crops could be manipulated to become more productive; they were capable of supporting an increasing populationthey were capable of supporting an increasing population

* * This process was more than likely unintentional (in the This process was more than likely unintentional (in the beginning) but the overall result was an increased ability of beginning) but the overall result was an increased ability of societies to thrive and expand.societies to thrive and expand.

Agricultural Revolution, Agricultural Revolution, con’tcon’t

The domestication of maize:The domestication of maize: Because humans kept selecting kernels that stayed Because humans kept selecting kernels that stayed

on the husks to replant– corn eventually lost its on the husks to replant– corn eventually lost its ability to reproduce on its own without the help of ability to reproduce on its own without the help of man.man.

TehuacTehuacáán valley: archaeologists believe that n valley: archaeologists believe that humans living here over time accidentally humans living here over time accidentally domesticated maize—moving from the riverbanks domesticated maize—moving from the riverbanks to the foothills to the mountains because of to the foothills to the mountains because of environmental factors (climate, seasons, etc.) and environmental factors (climate, seasons, etc.) and continually “experimenting” with the wild maize continually “experimenting” with the wild maize eventually led to its domestication once the eventually led to its domestication once the environment changed drastically because of environment changed drastically because of extended droughts.extended droughts.

Urban RevolutionsUrban Revolutions

Urban = “city” lifeUrban = “city” life How and why did they get started?How and why did they get started? There is no distinct, There is no distinct,

definitive way in which early settlements became urban definitive way in which early settlements became urban centers (they all followed their own paths). But… they all centers (they all followed their own paths). But… they all shared the following characteristics: shared the following characteristics:

(1) their existence relied on the intensive manipulation of (1) their existence relied on the intensive manipulation of the environment and they resulted in greater complexity;the environment and they resulted in greater complexity;

(2) as communities grew larger, they needed access to (2) as communities grew larger, they needed access to more distant resources (via trade) which united city more distant resources (via trade) which united city dwellers with those who lived outside the city walls (those dwellers with those who lived outside the city walls (those they traded with).they traded with).

Urban RevolutionsUrban Revolutions

Disadvantages Disadvantages of living in an urban of living in an urban center:center:1. they could become overcrowded1. they could become overcrowdedand over populatedand over populated2. they often developed food 2. they often developed food shortagesshortages3. diseases often broke out in crowded 3. diseases often broke out in crowded citiescities

Advantages:Advantages: security AND ???? security AND ????

Urban Revolutions, con’tUrban Revolutions, con’t

Complex societies evolved at different times in widely Complex societies evolved at different times in widely separated areas like Africa, the Americas, and Eurasia (on separated areas like Africa, the Americas, and Eurasia (on the road from settlements to cities).the road from settlements to cities).

While urban growth occurred independently in each region, While urban growth occurred independently in each region, all of these areas shared some similar patterns: all of these areas shared some similar patterns:

(1) distinctions in wealth, (1) distinctions in wealth, (2) status and gender became more important, (2) status and gender became more important, (3) new kinds of culture with new forms of expression.(3) new kinds of culture with new forms of expression.See your chart for detailsSee your chart for details

Pottery: Pottery: archaeologists see pottery as a sign of a settled archaeologists see pottery as a sign of a settled society (people need storage vessels for water, grain, etc. society (people need storage vessels for water, grain, etc. in order to survive).in order to survive).

Mehrgarh: Lessons LearnedMehrgarh: Lessons Learned

Archaeologists’ mistaken ideas: that the people of Archaeologists’ mistaken ideas: that the people of Mehrgarh (in present day Pakistan) developed ideas about Mehrgarh (in present day Pakistan) developed ideas about pottery, metals, and agriculture from migrants from the pottery, metals, and agriculture from migrants from the west via the process of west via the process of cultural diffusion cultural diffusion (by 6000 BCE)(by 6000 BCE)

When in fact, Mehrgarh appears to have developed some When in fact, Mehrgarh appears to have developed some rudimentary knowledge of making clay objects and had rudimentary knowledge of making clay objects and had harvested primitive local barleysharvested primitive local barleys

Most archaeologists today believe that 8,000 years ago (or Most archaeologists today believe that 8,000 years ago (or so) Mehrgarh was an unsophisticated settlement (that had so) Mehrgarh was an unsophisticated settlement (that had developed independent of others) but by about 6000 BCE, developed independent of others) but by about 6000 BCE, migrants had moved into the area and had spread their migrants had moved into the area and had spread their ideas about making pottery (storage vessels, etc.) and ideas about making pottery (storage vessels, etc.) and raising more sophisticated varieties of barley and other raising more sophisticated varieties of barley and other grains.grains.