Unit 2: Agricultural Revolution Quiz

Unit 2: Humans Settle Down & The Agricultural Revolution

• The Agricultural Revolution occurred around 10,000-11,000 years ago.

Major Questions

• Question 1: What factors contributed to the emergence of the earliest settled communities?

  • Textbook Pages: 27-35

• Question 2: What were the major characteristics of the first transitions to agriculture around the world?

  • Textbook Pages: 35-47

• Question 3: What were the main effects of the transition to agriculture on human life and culture?

  • Textbook Pages: 47-54

From the Paleolithic Era to Neolithic Era

• Paleolithic Era (Up to ~12,000 years ago):

  • Old Stone Tools
  • Nomadic Hunter-Gatherers (Foraging)
  • Small communities (25-50 people)
  • Constantly on the move

• Neolithic Era (~12,000 years ago to ~2,000 BCE):

  • New Stone Tools
  • First Settlements
  • Still some Nomadism, but not as common as before
  • Formation of Farming Communities thanks to the Agricultural Revolution

Example of Sedentary Civilization: Göbekli Tepe

• Göbekli Tepe, located in southeastern Turkey, is a monumental archaeological site that dates back to around 9600 BCE. It is considered one of the earliest examples of complex, organized societies that constructed large-scale structures. The site features intricate stone carvings and massive T-shaped pillars, showcasing advanced social organization and communal activities typical of settled civilizations.

Webquest

• Students should use their computers to access the assignment "Webquest: Göbekli Tepe" on Blackbaud.
• Students should research online and answer worksheet questions.
• Submit the completed worksheet to Dr. Foster by the end of class.
• Homework: Bring a posterboard to class on Thursday (students can store it in Dr. Foster's room).

Agricultural Revolution

• A visual representation of different depictions of people during the Agricultural Revolution

Earth's Wild Climate During the Paleolithic Period

• Retreating Ice:
  • Defrosting between 26,000 and 20,000 years ago
  • Positive effects: More food and new living spaces
• The Younger Dryas:
  • 10,000-9700 BCE
  • Brutally cold and dry spell
  • Wiped out human/animal/plant life
  • Significant impact on parts of the world

The Younger Dryas in Central Greenland

• Graph depicting ice accumulation and temperature changes during the Younger Dryas period.

Welcome To The Holocene!

• The current epoch, spanning between the Younger Dryas and Modern Day.

A Period of Climate Stability

• Demonstrates stable climatic conditions that allowed humans to settle down.

Sedentary Societies - The First Permanent Settlements

• Nomadic Societies: Moving frequently due to weather, food, enemies etc
• Climate Stability Allowed Sedentism: Allowed humans to settle in one place with easier access to food.

Example of Semi-Sedentary & Sedentary Societies

• Examples of semi-sedentary and sedentary societies across different regions (e.g., Ukrainian Mammoth Hunters, Magdalenian Culture, Göbekli Tepe, Jomon Culture, Salmon Settlements).
  • Focus on locations and how stable food sources played a significant role in settlement patterns

Q. What do sedentary and/or semi-sedentary societies have in common?

• They settled in locations with relatively stable access to food supplies, allowing them to stop nomadic lifestyles.

The Importance of Domestication & Symbiosis

• Domestication: Taming or cultivating wild plants/animals to benefit humans.
• Symbiosis: Close relationship between two or more species where both benefit (Mutualism), or one benefits and other is unaffected (Commensalism) or one benefits and other is harmed (Parasitism)
  • Examples include humans and pet dogs, humans and useful plants

Specific Examples (Domestication & Symbiosis)

• Dogs: Domesticated in Eurasia, likely 15,000 years ago. Played a role in hunting and provided security. Humans feed, providing mutual advantage.
• Grasses: Cultivation of wheat, barley, rye, rice, and maize (examples). Humans started to develop advanced farming by gathering, storing and planting seeds. Development of agriculture.

What was the Neolithic Revolution?

• Transition from hunter-gatherer societies to agriculture and permanent settlements, approximately 10,000 BCE.
• Occurred in the Fertile Crescent (Mesopotamia), the land between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers.