The Neolithic Revolution - Franklin Board of Education

Do Now: Was farming the greatest achievement or worst mistake in human history?

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The Neolithic Revolution

Was farming the greatest achievement or worst mistake in human history?

What was the Neolithic Revolution? • Date – 8,000 BC to 4,000 BC • Neolithic Revolution – When people stopped moving in search of food because they learned how to grow crops. They became the first farmers and began to build villages. • Civilization – These are complex societies that have cities, organized governments, art, religion, class divisions, and a writing system.

How did farming impact our world?

How did the Neolithic Revolution Impact the World? • • • • • • • • • •

Economies Lifestyle Specialization of Labor Social Class Division Warfare Governments and laws Increase in population Health Calendar Food Surplus

Farming As an Achievement • • • • •

Food Surplus Creation of cities Government Increase in technology Development of Formal Education • Increase in Personal Property

Farming As a Mistake One Bushman, when asked why he hadn't [copied] neighboring tribes by adopting agriculture, replied, “Why should we, when there are so many mongongo nuts in the world?"

Farming As a Mistake • Health:

– Height decreased: Pre-Farming 5’9 for men and 5’5 for women… Post-Farming 5’5 for men and 5’0 for women. – Life Expectancy: Pre-Farming 26 years, Post Farming 19 years – Malnutrition – Disease spreads quickly in villages & cities

Farming As a Mistake • Inequalities – Men and Women: Increased pregnancies = decline in health – Social Class Division: Whoever controls the grains controls the village

Bibliography Diamond, Jared. “The Worst Mistake In The History Of The Human Race.” Discover, May 1987, pp. 64-66