Surplus Production and the Rise of Civilization Flashcards

A set of fill-in-the-blank flashcards covering the transition from Neolithic farming to the rise of civilizations through surplus production.

Small farming communities began to appear during the __________ Revolution.

Neolithic (Agricultural)

Unlike mobile hunting and gathering, farming forced people to __________ in one place.

settle

Villages remained small as long as they practiced __________ agriculture, producing only enough for their own needs.

subsistence

The founding of the earliest cities was primarily made possible by __________ production.

surplus

Surplus production allows for __________ __________, where people devote their lives to work other than farming.

occupational specialization

The need to keep trade records as human societies expanded was the primary driver for the creation of __________ __________.

writing systems

Population increases with surplus because better nutrition allows more children to reach __________.

adulthood

The development of surplus requires a __________ __________ or government of some kind.

supervising authority

One of the four main elements of civilization is a division of labor, also known as __________ __________.

specialized occupations

Along with cities and government, a __________ system is a main element of civilization made possible by surplus.

records-keeping