The The Neolithic Neolithic RevolutioRevolutio

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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