Early Civilization and the Agricultural Revolution in West Africa

Flashcards covering the transition from hunting and gathering to the Agricultural Revolution, the rise of the Iron Age, and early civilizations like Egypt and the Nok culture in West Africa.

What characterizes the Paleolithic period?

A period where man was nomadic, depended on hunting and gathering, and could not establish permanent villages because he had to adapt to environmental changes.

What major change defined the Neolithic Revolution or New Stone Age?

Man transitioned from hunting and gathering to domesticating animals and cultivating plants specifically selected for food and clothing.

What were the socio-economic results of surplus food supplies during the Neolithic period?

Accumulation of wealth, increase in population, division of labour, and the development of basket weaving and pottery for storage.

What is the 'urban revolution'?

The appearance of the first permanent settlements, which archaeologists trace back to about 8,000 B.C. or earlier in the Near East and Middle East.

By what date was Egypt undergoing the Neolithic revolution?

5,000 B.C.

When did cultivation become established in what is now the Southern and Northern Sahara?

About 2000 B.C.

What local wild seed bearing plants were substituted by Negro cultivators in the Savannah?

guinea corn, millet and wheat.

What is the 'NOK CULTURE' and why is it significant?

A complete neolithic culture located around the Jos and Bauchi Plateaus that used iron and produced fine sculptures between 800 B.C. and 200 A.D.

Why did the Neolithic Revolution spread slowly from the Savannah to the forest areas?

Cereals plantable in the Savannah could not survive the humid conditions of the forest, requiring the adoption of different root crops.

Which crops were central to the development of vege-culture in the forest land?

The oil-palm, various yams and rice.

Which tropical crops were introduced from Asia before 1000 A.D.?

bananas and plantains, cocoyams and Asia yams.

Which crops were introduced from America to the forest zone around 1300 A.D.?

sweet potatoes, maize, and cassava.

What factors led to the development of early urban cities in Egypt?

A shortage of arable land combined with population explosion and the rich alluvial deposits of the Nile Valley.

What are the three stages of food production development in West Africa?

(a) Arrival of agriculture, pastoralism, and pottery; (b) Domestication of local foods and wild animals; (c) Preservation of items and the spread of the idea.

Why did West Africans move straight from the Late Stone Age to the Iron Age?

Copper and bronze were hardly obtainable in small quantities, whereas iron-ores were common and widespread throughout West Africa.

Where and when did the practice of smelting iron originate?

In the second milleneum in Asia Minor or the Near East, specifically the area of the ancient Hittite empire.

Why were the Egyptians unable to inherit iron-making from the Assyrians in the 7th century?

Egypt possessed neither abundant iron-ore nor the timber needed to fire the furnaces for smelting.

Which location served as the first considerable iron-making industry in Africa?

Ancient Nubia, which possessed both iron-ore deposits and timber.

When was Carthage established by iron-using Phoenicians?

The 9th century B.C.

What are 'terra cotta' in the context of the Nok culture?

Baked clays and figures produced in a distinctive artistic style of great beauty.

What was the importance of iron working for West African food production?

It led to the invention of stronger, more durable tools for soil cultivation, increasing food production and trade.

How did iron weapons change hunting and environmental interaction in West Africa?

It provided stronger weapons like iron spears and bows and allowed man to overcome natural barriers like thick forests and mountains.

What are the benefits of domestication during the Neolithic period?

Domestication led to a more stable food supply, the ability to settle in one place, and developments in technology and social structures as communities grew.

What are some examples of Neolithic technologies?

Examples include pottery for storage, weaving for textiles, and early tools made from polished stone.

What role did trade play in Neolithic societies?

Trade allowed for the exchange of goods, ideas, and technologies between different cultures, fostering social and economic development.

What was the impact of the urban revolution on social structures?

The urban revolution led to the emergence of social hierarchies, with some individuals gaining power and wealth due to their roles in governance, trade, or religious practices.

How did agricultural practices differ in various regions during the Neolithic?

Different regions adapted their agricultural practices based on local climate and soil conditions, resulting in varied crops and farming techniques.