Culture and Civilization I

Test 1 Question 2

Jeromy Rech

There were various reasons why humans changed from a nomadic existence of hunters and gathers to a
sedentary existence in agricultural villages. This transition is known as the Neolithic Revolution. The first
reason dealt with technology. The technology needed to farm in comparison to that of the hunter-gather
societies were relatively the same, so it was only a small gap to make the transition, which was very easy for
them. There was also large depletion of wild game, especially large animals due to climate change (ice age),
which forced the hunting of smaller animals, which more are required to feed the same population. There was
also an increase in population: hunter-gather societies could only support bands of 15-25 members, so as the
population increased, there was pressure to find ways to feed everyone. Another reason was that the
domestication of plants was very easy take and plant seeds. Finally, hunter-gather societies needed large area,
and when farms begin to pop up and expand, the hunter-gathers have to adapt or die (dislocate/migrate). It is
important to note that the transition to farming did not mean they would work less. In terms of time
commitment, hunter-gathering societies had it very good. They typically worked 7 hours every 3 days. There
were various outcomes of the agricultural revolution. The first was a radical increase in population because you
have the food to support more and more people. The next outcome was that property becomes very important as
your farm and livestock were precious, which leads to walls, formation of police and military forces. Another
outcome was that religion becomes important as a way to help control some of the many factors associated
with farming i.e. create rituals to get in touch with the spirits that control things such as weather, which leads
to the emersion of priests, who act as the intermediary between the humans and God/gods. People were also
more susceptible to contagious diseases as you form a community in close contact. There was also the
formation of class hierarchy and job specialization as a surplus of food allows for some people to take up other
jobs, like make pots and baskets to store food, or work on irrigation to help control water flow to crops, or
craftsmen to make tools. These jobs are important and hold higher status. Another outcome was the formation of
villages, which can be populated by 50 5,000 people. There were also changes in gender roles: men are strong
and warrior like and are needed to protect property and are defenders = more important, which leads to a
patriarchal society. Finally, there was the development of metallurgy in terms of copper, bronze, and eventually
iron. The three negatives critiques of urbanization are the following: Increase in warfare fighting increases
because property becomes more important, and societies become stagnant/not moving, which allows them to
amass more materials. Subordination of woman - men are strong/warrior like and are needed to protect property
and are defenders = more important, which leads to a patriarchal society. Emergence of class struggle - surplus
of food allows for some people to take up other jobs, like make pots and baskets to store food, or work on
irrigation to help control water flow to crops, or craftsmen to make tools. These jobs are important and hold
higher status. Priests > craftsman > farmers > slaves/servants/etc.