Agricultural Revolution
Fertile River Valleys
River valleys provided great soil for growing food (crops)
The soil was good for growing crops
When the river flooded and then receded, it left silt behind (great fertile soil)
Farming Replaces Hunting/Gathering
Around 8,000 B.C. Hunter-Gatherers settled down and began growing their own food (farming)
This began the agricultural revolution
This new way of living started the Neolithic Age (new stone age)
Farming villages began to sprout all over
One of the earliest farming villages was in an area called the Fertile Crescent (Mesopotamia)
Early Farm Tools
Farming was hard work
Neolithic people created special stone and wooden tools to make farming more easier and more efficient
Hoes, plows, and sickles were made for digging, plowing, and cutting
Pottery (hardened in kilns/ovens) was developed to store ancient grains (wheat, barley, etc.)
Animal Domestication
These farmers used animals that they domesticated (adapted/imprinted wild animals to help humans do work)
These domesticated animals (cattle and other beasts-of-burden) helped to make their new farm tools more efficient and made the work less tiring for Neolithic people
Metal Replaces Stone Tools
Kilns (ovens) were used to melt metal and pour this melted metal in molds to make metal tools
The Stone Age ended and the metal age had arrived
These new metal tools were superior (better than the old stone tools)
The Spread of Agriculture
Agriculture spread across Mesopotamia allowing people to grow their own food
This spread of agriculture slowed down diaspora letting people settle and make towns
Pablo D.
Olive Vista Middle School Student