The term Neolithic Revolution was first coined in the 1920s by Vere Gordon Childe to describe the first in a series of agricultural revolutions to have punctuated human history. This period is described as a "revolution" not so much in the sense that its uptake or spread was rapid, but rather to denote the great significance and degree of change brought about to the communities in which these practices were gradually adopted and refined. This involved a gradual transition from a hunter-gatherer mode of subsistence which was pra ...

See also:

Neolithic Revolution, Neolithic Revolution - Agricultural transition, Neolithic Revolution - Incentive to settle, Neolithic Revolution - Emergence of civilization, Neolithic Revolution - Domestication of plants, Neolithic Revolution - Agriculture in Asia, Neolithic Revolution - Agriculture in the Fertile Crescent, Neolithic Revolution - Agriculture in Africa, Neolithic Revolution - Domestication of animals, Neolithic Revolution - Domestication of animals in China's yellow river valley, Neolithic Revolution - Social change, Neolithic Revolution - Disease, Neolithic Revolution - The beginnings of technology, Neolithic Revolution - Subsequent revolutions

Read more here: » Neolithic Revolution: Encyclopedia II - Neolithic Revolution - Agricultural transition

Once agriculture started gaining momentum, humans were unknowingly altering the genetic make-up of certain cereal grasses (wheat and barley) that would favour greater caloric returns through larger seeds. Plants that possessed traits such as small seeds, or bitter taste would have been seen as undesirable. This process known as domestication allowed crops to adapt and eventually become larger and more useful to the human population. Once early farmers perfected their agricultural techniques, their crops would yield surpluses which nee ...

See also:

Neolithic Revolution, Neolithic Revolution - Agricultural transition, Neolithic Revolution - Incentive to settle, Neolithic Revolution - Emergence of civilization, Neolithic Revolution - Domestication of plants, Neolithic Revolution - Agriculture in Asia, Neolithic Revolution - Agriculture in the Fertile Crescent, Neolithic Revolution - Agriculture in Africa, Neolithic Revolution - Domestication of animals, Neolithic Revolution - Domestication of animals in China's yellow river valley, Neolithic Revolution - Social change, Neolithic Revolution - Disease, Neolithic Revolution - The beginnings of technology, Neolithic Revolution - Subsequent revolutions

Read more here: » Neolithic Revolution: Encyclopedia II - Neolithic Revolution - Domestication of plants

Few details of these cultures are widely agreed upon, and even the date of the Indo-European arrival in Old Europe is questioned, whether in a Late Neolithic or a Bronze Age context. One major reappraisal of the evidence by the archaeologist Colin Renfrew proposes that the Indo-European 'invasion' is instead linked to the relatively rapid spread of farming from Anatolia into Europe from about 6500 BC, an idea he has ...

See also:

Neolithic Europe, Neolithic Europe - Origins, Neolithic Europe - Old Europe, Neolithic Europe - Pre-Indo-European peoples, Neolithic Europe - Neolithic languages, Neolithic Europe - Competing theories, Neolithic Europe - List of cultures

Read more here: » Neolithic Europe: Encyclopedia II - Neolithic Europe - Competing theories

Agriculture gave humans more control over their food supply, but required settled occupation of territory and encouraged larger social groups. These sedentary groups were able to reproduce at a faster rate due to the added convenience of raising children in such societies. The children accounted for a denser population, and introduced specialization by providing diverse forms of labour. The development of larger societies called for a means of governmental organization. Food surpluses made this possible by feeding chieftains as they focused on work, rather than producing sustenance. In addition, domesticated ...

See also:

Neolithic Revolution, Neolithic Revolution - Agricultural transition, Neolithic Revolution - Incentive to settle, Neolithic Revolution - Emergence of civilization, Neolithic Revolution - Domestication of plants, Neolithic Revolution - Agriculture in Asia, Neolithic Revolution - Agriculture in the Fertile Crescent, Neolithic Revolution - Agriculture in Africa, Neolithic Revolution - Domestication of animals, Neolithic Revolution - Domestication of animals in China's yellow river valley, Neolithic Revolution - Social change, Neolithic Revolution - Disease, Neolithic Revolution - The beginnings of technology, Neolithic Revolution - Subsequent revolutions

Read more here: » Neolithic Revolution: Encyclopedia II - Neolithic Revolution - Social change

The earliest modern humans, or Homo sapiens sapiens - as opposed to Neanderthals - to enter Europe did so perhaps around 50,000 years ago, during a long period of particularly mild climate, when Europe was relatively warm, and food was plentiful. Some of the oldest works of art in the world, such as the cave paintings at Lascaux in southern France, are dated to shortly after this migration. The Neanderthals, the earliest Homo sapiens to occupy Europe, are thought to have already been there for about 150,000 years. The Neanderth ...

See also:

Neolithic Europe, Neolithic Europe - Origins, Neolithic Europe - Old Europe, Neolithic Europe - Pre-Indo-European peoples, Neolithic Europe - Neolithic languages, Neolithic Europe - Competing theories, Neolithic Europe - List of cultures

Read more here: » Neolithic Europe: Encyclopedia II - Neolithic Europe - Pre-Indo-European peoples

When hunter-gathering began to be replaced by sedentary food production it became more profitable to keep animals close at hand. Therefore, it became necessary to bring animals permanently to their settlements. The animals' size, temperament, diet, mating patterns, and life span were factors in the desire and success in domesticating animals. Animals that provided milk, such as cows and goats, offered a source of protein that was renewable and therefore quite valuable. The animal’s ability as a worker (for example ploughing or towing), as ...

See also:

Neolithic Revolution, Neolithic Revolution - Agricultural transition, Neolithic Revolution - Incentive to settle, Neolithic Revolution - Emergence of civilization, Neolithic Revolution - Domestication of plants, Neolithic Revolution - Agriculture in Asia, Neolithic Revolution - Agriculture in the Fertile Crescent, Neolithic Revolution - Agriculture in Africa, Neolithic Revolution - Domestication of animals, Neolithic Revolution - Domestication of animals in China's yellow river valley, Neolithic Revolution - Social change, Neolithic Revolution - Disease, Neolithic Revolution - The beginnings of technology, Neolithic Revolution - Subsequent revolutions

Read more here: » Neolithic Revolution: Encyclopedia II - Neolithic Revolution - Domestication of animals

The early Neolithic culture in South Asia is represented by the Mehrgarh culture which began in 7000 BC, now in Baluchistan, Pakistan. The Mehrgarh community were mostly pastoral, lived in mud houses, wove baskets and tended to goats and their farms. By 5500 BC, pottery began to appear and later chalcolithic implements began to appear. By 2000 BC, the settlement was abandoned. Late Neolithic cultures sprang up in the Indus Valley region between 6000 BC and 2000 BC (see belo ...

See also:

History of India, History of India - The Paleolithic era, History of India - The Neolithic era, History of India - The Bronze age, History of India - Indus Valley Civilization, History of India - Vedic civilization, History of India - The Mahajanapadas, History of India - Persian and Greek invasion, History of India - Achaemenid Empire, History of India - Alexander the Great, History of India - Greco-Buddhist period, History of India - The Magadha Empire, History of India - Shishunaga dynasty, History of India - Nanda Dynasty, History of India - Maurya dynasty, History of India - Shunga dynasty, History of India - Early Middle Kingdoms - the golden age, History of India - Satavahana Empire, History of India - Kushan Empire, History of India - Gupta dynasty, History of India - Huna invasion, History of India - Indo-Sassanians, History of India - Late Middle Kingdoms - the classical age, History of India - Harsha's empire, History of India - The Chalukyas and Pallavas, History of India - Chola empire, History of India - The Pratiharas Palas and Rashtrakutas, History of India - The Rajputs, History of India - Vijayanagar Empire, History of India - The Islamic Sultanates, History of India - Delhi Sultanate, History of India - The Mughal era, History of India - Mughal Empire, History of India - The Maratha confederacy, History of India - The Kingdom of Mysore, History of India - The Punjab, History of India - Durrani Empire, History of India - Colonial era, History of India - Company rule, History of India - The British Raj, History of India - The independence movement, History of India - Republic of India, History of India - Textbooks and surveys

Read more here: » History of India: Encyclopedia II - History of India - The Neolithic era

The Neolithic saw the introduction of farming and pottery, and the use of more advanced stone implements. It was once thought that these innovations were introduced by a new wave of settlers, but there is no compelling evidence for a large-scale invasion at this point in Irish history. It is much more likely that the Neolithic revolution was a long and slow process resulting from trade and overseas contacts with agricultural communities in Britain and on the continent. Agriculture began around 4500 BC. Sheep, goats, cattle and cereals ...

See also:

Early history of Ireland, Early history of Ireland - The Mesolithic 8000 BC - 4500 BC, Early history of Ireland - The Neolithic 4500 BC - 2500 BC, Early history of Ireland - The Bronze Age 2500 BC - 700 BC, Early history of Ireland - The Celts, Early history of Ireland - O'Rahilly's historical model, Early history of Ireland - The Gaelic conquest of Ulster

Read more here: » Early history of Ireland: Encyclopedia II - Early history of Ireland - The Neolithic 4500 BC - 2500 BC

The settlements consist of round semi-subterranean houses with stone foundations and terrazzo-floors. The superstructures were constructed of unbaked mudbricks with plano-convex cross-sections. The hearths were small and covered with cobbles. Heated rocks were used in cooking, which led to an accumulation of fire-cracked rock in the buildings. Almost every settlement contains storage bins made either stones or mud-brick. The sites are much larger than in the preceding Natufian and contain traces of communal structures, like the ...

See also:

Pre-Pottery Neolithic A, Pre-Pottery Neolithic A - Type site, Pre-Pottery Neolithic A - Dating, Pre-Pottery Neolithic A - Economy, Pre-Pottery Neolithic A - Settlements, Pre-Pottery Neolithic A - Lithics, Pre-Pottery Neolithic A - Regional variants, Pre-Pottery Neolithic A - Related Articles

Read more here: » Pre-Pottery Neolithic A: Encyclopedia II - Pre-Pottery Neolithic A - Settlements

Definition and meaning of Neolithic Agricultural Revolution

Neolithic Agricultural Revolution - [World History]

The New Stone Age (Neolithic) began about 10,000 B.C. and lasted until about 3,500 B.C. During this period, people changed from hunting and gathering food to domesticating animals and cultivating land as farmers. The revolution in agricultural production began in the Middle East and spread into Africa, Asia, and the Americas. The change in agricultural practices affected life. The Neolithic farmer developed a concept of ownership and property, established permanent settlements, and abandoned a nomadic lifestyle.

(Source: The Social Studies Center at Texas University )

Also see these pages:  Social Studies, Social Studies Sitemap, History, History Sitemap

The lake is about 6 kilometres long by 600 to 1000 metres wide. It covers an area of approximately 2 square miles, though its drainage area, at 91.5 sq miles is 44 times greater than any other lake in the Lake District. This, along with a large percentage of cultivable land within this drainage area, allows Bassenthwaite Lake to be a fertile habitat. The lake contains trout, pike, perch,vendace and eel. Cormorants have been known to fish the lake and herons can also be seen. At the turn of the 19th century there was a report of 60 nests in a heronry in nearby Wythop Woods. In addition to this, the lake is ...

See also:

Bassenthwaite Lake, Bassenthwaite Lake - Genesis, Bassenthwaite Lake - Biodiversity, Bassenthwaite Lake - Neolithic Man

Read more here: » Bassenthwaite Lake: Encyclopedia II - Bassenthwaite Lake - Biodiversity

Traditionally the arrival of the Neolithic in Britain has been seen as a wave of immigration from the continent, supplanting the local hunter-gatherers. Modern archaeology now considers that farming along with pottery and settled living was in fact adopted by the native population who were related to the similarly newly-farming Neolithic people across the water. Knowledge of farming and ceramics probably passed between kinfolk through intermarriage, trade and other cultural ties. Links with continental Europe are demonstrated by ...

See also:

Prehistoric Britain, Prehistoric Britain - Preface, Prehistoric Britain - The Palaeolithic, Prehistoric Britain - Lower Palaeolithic, Prehistoric Britain - Middle Palaeolithic, Prehistoric Britain - Upper Palaeolithic, Prehistoric Britain - Mesolithic, Prehistoric Britain - The Mesolithic-Neolithic transition, Prehistoric Britain - The Neolithic, Prehistoric Britain - The Bronze Age, Prehistoric Britain - The Iron Age, Prehistoric Britain - Late pre-Roman Iron Age LPRIA, Prehistoric Britain - Bibliography

Read more here: » Prehistoric Britain: Encyclopedia II - Prehistoric Britain - The Neolithic

Definition and meaning of Neolithic Agricultural Revolution

Neolithic Agricultural Revolution - [World History]

The New Stone Age (Neolithic) began about 10,000 B.C. and lasted until about 3,500 B.C. During this period, people changed from hunting and gathering food to domesticating animals and cultivating land as farmers. The revolution in agricultural production began in the Middle East and spread into Africa, Asia, and the Americas. The change in agricultural practices affected life. The Neolithic farmer developed a concept of ownership and property, established permanent settlements, and abandoned a nomadic lifestyle.

(Source: The Social Studies Center at Texas University )

Also see these pages:  Social Studies, Social Studies Sitemap, History, History Sitemap

Prehistory of Cyprus - Early Bronze Age. The new era was introduced by people from Anatolia who came to Cyprus because of disturbances in Asia Minor. It is only natural that we observe the first vivid vestiges of this civilisation around 2300 BC in the northern part of the island, from where it spread south and west. As the newcomers knew how to work with copper they soon moved to the so-called copperbelt of the island, that is the foothills of the Troodos mountains. This movement reflects the increased interest in the raw material that was going to be so closely conn ...

See also:

Prehistory of Cyprus, Prehistory of Cyprus - Epipalaeolithic, Prehistory of Cyprus - Neolithic, Prehistory of Cyprus - Aceramic Neolithic, Prehistory of Cyprus - Ceramic Neolithic, Prehistory of Cyprus - Chalcolithic, Prehistory of Cyprus - Bronze Age, Prehistory of Cyprus - Early Bronze Age, Prehistory of Cyprus - Middle Bronze Age, Prehistory of Cyprus - Late Bronze Age, Prehistory of Cyprus - Iron Age, Prehistory of Cyprus - Literature, Prehistory of Cyprus - Reference

Read more here: » Prehistory of Cyprus: Encyclopedia II - Prehistory of Cyprus - Bronze Age

Some time later a Bronze age rituals added a small stone and clay cairn just off centre inside the monument, with a 7 ft (2 m) high standing stone to the east and a setting of smaller stones. Also aligned to this cairn were sockets for three upright stones at the centre of an arc of seven small pits, six of which contained cremated bones and two contained remains of bone skewer pins. Under the cairn traces were found of at least one burial, with wooden objects (perhaps a mask and club) and beaker people style ...

See also:

Cairnpapple Hill, Cairnpapple Hill - Neolithic, Cairnpapple Hill - Bronze Age, Cairnpapple Hill - Present day, Cairnpapple Hill - Derivation of the name

Read more here: » Cairnpapple Hill: Encyclopedia II - Cairnpapple Hill - Bronze Age

With more sites becoming known, the archaeologists have defined a number of regional variants: 'Sultanien' in the Jordan River valley and southern Levant with the type site of Jerich. Other sites include Netiv Hagdud, El-Khiam, Hatoula and Nahal Oren. Image:Aswadpoint.jpg 'Mureybetian' in the Northern Levant. Defined by the finds from Mureybet IIIA, IIIB, typical: Helwan points, sickle-blades with base amenagée or short stem and terminal retouch. Other sites include Sheyk Hasan and Jerf el-Ahmar ...

See also:

Pre-Pottery Neolithic A, Pre-Pottery Neolithic A - Type site, Pre-Pottery Neolithic A - Dating, Pre-Pottery Neolithic A - Economy, Pre-Pottery Neolithic A - Settlements, Pre-Pottery Neolithic A - Lithics, Pre-Pottery Neolithic A - Regional variants, Pre-Pottery Neolithic A - Related Articles

Read more here: » Pre-Pottery Neolithic A: Encyclopedia II - Pre-Pottery Neolithic A - Regional variants

History of Africa - North Africa. Main article: History of the Sahara Neolithic rock engravings, or 'petroglyphs' and the megaliths in the Sahara desert of Libya attest to early hunter-gatherer culture in the dry grasslands of North Africa during the glacial age. The region of the present Sahara was an early site for the practice of agriculture (Wavy-line ceramics). However, after the desertification of the Sahara, settlement in North Africa became concentrated in the valley of the Nile, where the p ...

See also:

History of Africa, History of Africa - Paleolithic, History of Africa - Evolution of hominids and Homo sapiens in Africa, History of Africa - Neolithic prehistoric cultures, History of Africa - North Africa, History of Africa - Sub-Saharan Africa, History of Africa - History of North Africa 3500 B.C. - 1500 A.D., History of Africa - Ancient Egypt, History of Africa - Phoenician Greek and Roman colonization, History of Africa - Dark Age, History of Africa - Islamisation, History of Africa - History of Sub-Saharan Africa until 1500 A.D., History of Africa - Medieval empires, History of Africa - European exploration and conquest, History of Africa - Portuguese, History of Africa - 19th Century European explorers, History of Africa - Partition among European Powers, History of Africa - Conflicting ambitions of the European powers, History of Africa - The Berlin Conference of 1884-85, History of Africa - 20th Century: 1900-1945, History of Africa - Africa at the start of the 20th century, History of Africa - Interbellum, History of Africa - World War II, History of Africa - Postcolonial era:1945-present, History of Africa - Decolonization, History of Africa - Postcolonial Relationship with Europe, History of Africa - The Cold War in Africa, History of Africa - Pan-Africanism, History of Africa - Central Africa, History of Africa - East Africa, History of Africa - North Africa, History of Africa - Southern Africa, History of Africa - West Africa

Read more here: » History of Africa: Encyclopedia II - History of Africa - Neolithic prehistoric cultures

In the 200th millennium BC, during the Paleolithic period the Neanderthal Man first entered the Iberian peninsula establishing the Mousterian culture around the 70th millennium BC. In the beginning of the Upper Paleolithic occurred the first large settlement of Europe by Modern Humans, Nomadic Hunter-gathereres coming from the of the Steppes of Central Asia, characterized by the M173 mutation in the Y chromosome, defining them as an Haplogroup R population. These humans would only reach the Iberian Peninsula during the 30th millennium BC. Wh ...

See also:

Prehistoric Portugal, Prehistoric Portugal - Paleolithic, Prehistoric Portugal - Mesolithic, Prehistoric Portugal - Neolithic, Prehistoric Portugal - Bronze Age

Read more here: » Prehistoric Portugal: Encyclopedia II - Prehistoric Portugal - Paleolithic

The Iron Age follows the Submycenean period (1125-1050 BC) or Late Bronze age and is divided into the: Geometric 1050-700 Archaic 700-525 In the ensuing Early Iron Age Cyprus becomes predominantly Greek. Pottery shapes and decoration show a marked Aegean inspiration although Oriental ideas creep in from time to time. New burial customs with rock-cut chamber tombs having a long "dromos" (a ramp leading gradually towards the entrance) along with new religious beliefs speak in favour of the arrival of people ...

See also:

Prehistory of Cyprus, Prehistory of Cyprus - Epipalaeolithic, Prehistory of Cyprus - Neolithic, Prehistory of Cyprus - Aceramic Neolithic, Prehistory of Cyprus - Ceramic Neolithic, Prehistory of Cyprus - Chalcolithic, Prehistory of Cyprus - Bronze Age, Prehistory of Cyprus - Early Bronze Age, Prehistory of Cyprus - Middle Bronze Age, Prehistory of Cyprus - Late Bronze Age, Prehistory of Cyprus - Iron Age, Prehistory of Cyprus - Literature, Prehistory of Cyprus - Reference

Read more here: » Prehistory of Cyprus: Encyclopedia II - Prehistory of Cyprus - Iron Age

At least since the late Neolithic, elaborate axes (battle-axes, T-axes, etc.) had a religious significance as well and probably indicated the exalted status of their owner. Certain types almost never show traces of wear; deposits of unhafted axe blades from the middle Neolithic (such as Somerset Levels in Great Britain) may have been gifts to the gods. In Minoan Crete, the double axe (labrys) had a special meaning. Double axes date back to the Neolithic as well. In 1998, a double axe, complete with an elaborately embellished haft, has been f ...

See also:

Axe, Axe - History, Axe - Symbolism, ritual and folklore, Axe - Forms of Axes, Axe - Axes designed to cut or shape wood, Axe - Axes as Weapons, Axe - Axes for other uses, Axe - Literature, Axe - Neolithic axes, Axe - Superstition, Axe - Axe Manufacturers, Axe - Other Web Resources, Axe - Sources

Read more here: » Axe: Encyclopedia II - Axe - Symbolism, ritual and folklore

Early stone tools like the hand axe were probably not hafted. The first true hafted axes are known from the Mesolithic period (ca. 6000 BC), where axes made from antler were used that continued to be utilized in the Neolithic in some areas. Chopping tools made from flint were hafted as adzes. Axes made from ground stone are known since the Neolithic. They were used to fell trees and for woodworking. Few wooden hafts have been found, but it seems that the axe was normally hafted by wedging. Birch-tar and raw-hide lashings were used to fix the ...

See also:

Axe, Axe - History, Axe - Symbolism ritual and folklore, Axe - Forms of Axes, Axe - Axes designed to cut or shape wood, Axe - Axes as Weapons, Axe - Axes for other uses, Axe - Literature, Axe - Neolithic axes, Axe - Superstition, Axe - Axe Manufacturers, Axe - Other Web Resources, Axe - Sources

Read more here: » Axe: Encyclopedia II - Axe - History