Neolithic Revolution Flashcards

Flashcards covering key concepts, dates, and locations from the lecture notes on the Neolithic Revolution and early civilizations.

What are the three categories of ancient civilizations that will be covered in the tests?

Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, Rome, and Medieval Europe.

When did the Neolithic Revolution occur?

After the last ice age, approximately 15,000 years ago.

What does Paleolithic mean?

The early Stone Age.

What does Mesolithic mean?

The middle part of the Stone Age between the Paleolithic and Neolithic periods.

What does Neolithic mean?

The New Stone Age, marking the start of a settled human lifestyle.

What are the approximate dates of the Neolithic period?

Roughly 10,000 to 2,000 BCE.

Where did the Neolithic Revolution occur?

Sub-Saharan Africa, Europe, South and East Asia, the Americas, and the Fertile Crescent.

What key developments occurred during the Neolithic Revolution?

Domestication of plants and animals, and control over their production.

What animals were domesticated during the Neolithic Revolution?

Dogs, goats, sheep, camels, horses, cattle.

What is pastoralism?

Livestock raising used by early people to maintain their existence.

What are the implications of mush feeding versus breastfeeding?

More grain leads to mush for babies, allowing mothers to work and have more children, but it is less nutritious.

What is Sedentarization/Sedentism?

The process by which nomadic groups settle permanently in one place.

What were the social consequences of the Neolithic Revolution?

Labour intensive, food security concerns, social hierarchies, wealth accumulation, and patriarchy/slavery.

What are two examples/case studies of Neolithic settlements near the highlands of Anatolia?

Gobekli Tepe and Catal Huyuk, both located in modern-day southern Turkey.

When was Gobekli Tepe established?

9,000 BCE.

Who were the inhabitants of Gobekli Tepe and what were their key characteristics?

Foragers who built limestone pillars (Megaliths) decorated with animal carvings, suggesting a sense of religion/ritual life.

When was Catal Huyuk inhabited?

7,500 - 5,700 BCE.

What were the key features of Catal Huyuk?

Cultivation of crops and raising sheep, with evidence of specialization in pottery, baskets, textiles, carpets, and trade of obsidian.

What marks the start of the Bronze Age around 3,000 BCE?

The beginning of the use of bronze to create tools, replacing stone.

What evidence of ritual and religion has been found in Catal Huyuk?

Bodies buried under houses, skulls removed and decorated, murals, and figurines of women.

What is polytheism?

The belief or worship of more than one god, often associated with nature and agriculture.

What are the key words to know from this lecture?

Neolithic, pastoralism, Fertile Crescent, sedentism, domestication, polytheism, patriarchy, Gobekli Tepe, Catal Huyuk.