Lecture 7 : The Neolithic
Overview
INTRODUCTION – POPULATION GROWTH
THE MESOLITHIC
THE NEOLITHIC / AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION
– Developments in technology etc.
– Health and disease
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The Neolithic Revolution: Population Growth, Agriculture, and Health, Slides of Geology
An overview of the neolithic period, focusing on population growth, the agricultural revolution, and its impact on health. The mesolithic era, the transition to agriculture, and the emergence of permanent settlements. It also discusses the negative health consequences of these developments, including dietary deficiencies, water-borne diseases, and animal-transmitted diseases.
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2012/2013
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Lecture 7 : The Neolithic
Overview
INTRODUCTION – POPULATION GROWTHTHE MESOLITHICTHE NEOLITHIC / AGRICULTURAL REVOLUTION
- Developments in technology etc.– Health and disease
Population Changes
The world’s population is estimated as:
- 4 million by 10,000 BC– 5 million by 5,000 BC– 100 million by 500 BC There were
two
major developments:
- The Neolithic revolution / agricultural revolution ca.
9,000 – 7,000 BC
- The urban revolution ca. 3,000 BC
The Agricultural Revolution
•^
Began in the hilly regions of the Middle East about 9,000to 7,000 BC.
-^
Developed out of the domestication of animals such ascattle, sheep, pigs and goats, and the cultivation of grasses(e.g. wheat, barley) and legumes (e.g. peas, lentils).
-^
May have emerged elsewhere around the same time.
Settlement
•^
Agriculture was probably transitory to begin with, but iteventually resulted in permanent villages.
-^
It is generally believed that some villages grew into townsand then eventually cities about 3,000BC as they acquiredother functions (e.g. trade).
-^
However, some towns (e.g. Jericho, Catal Huyuk) aremuch older. There is a counter theory that towns based ontrade developed first, and that agriculture was ‘invented’ tofeed the urban populations.
Health And Disease(1)
Various factors contributed to worsening health: 1.
Population density
: Agriculture supported much higher
population densities – 10x to 100x hunter gathering.
2.
Diet
: Diets deteriorated due to dependence upon cereals,
resulting in beri-beri, pellagra, riboflavin deficiencyrickets and kwashiorkor.
3.
Permanent settlements
: water-borne infections due to
sewerage contamination of water supplies; rodenttransmission of disease due to stored food.
Summary
•^
Increased population, but declining diet and health.
-^
More labour intensive.
-^
Still vulnerable to famine.
-^
Why? Probably necessitated by declining game species andpopulation increases.