Essay 1

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III. The Building Blocks of Civilization A. Neolithic Revolution: New Stone Age (post-11,000 b.c.e.) B. Climate change 1. Cold Mediterranean conditions between 40,000 and 11,000 2. Climate warms and species change, as glaciers retreat C. Major characteristics 1. Development of managed food production 2. Permanent settlements 3. Trade between settlements: long distance and local 4. Individuals and communities to accumulate and store wealth on a large scale 5. Specialization developed along with distinctions of status and rank D. Changes and challenges of food production 1. Increasing birth rates a. Women more specialized in roles b. Men have less participation in child raising 2. More rapid spread of diseases 3. Necessity of developing storage capacity 4. Predictable surpluses allow for more animal domestication E. The Emergence of Towns and Villages 1. Jericho a. Seasonal grain-producing settlement b. Massive building program (walls and towers) c. Supported 3,000 inhabitants d. Pottery used for storage, cooking, brewing beer i. Identifiable pottery styles help archaeologists 2. Impact of stored agricultural surpluses a. Stockpiling wealth b. Tied people to a specific community c. More stratified communities 3. Rise of priestly class a. Dependence on agriculture required more attention to land, seasons, and weather b. Rise of a priestly class c. Spiritual power tied to more worldly power 4. Trade and the exchange of commodities a. Accelerated exchange of commodities and new ideas b. Increasing social stratification c. Social elites