THE NEOLITHIC

Chronology.

The Neolithic period started around 10.000 B. C. and ended about 4.500  B. C. with the apparition of metalworking.

 Where and why.

10.000 B.C. ago, the last glaciar period ended with a climatic change and a rise in the atmospheric temperatures. As a consequence, there was less food and paleolithic groups had to find new ways to find food, developing agriculture and livestock farming.

These changes that started the Neolithic period took place in the Fertile Crescent, a half-moon shaped region extending from the rivers Tigris and Euphrates to the Nile. From there spread to Europe, India and China

 

Economy.

The main two characteristics of the Neolithic were the apparition of the productive economy and the sedentary way of life. These changes are so important that we call it, the Neolithic Revolution:

• Productive economy, was based in agriculture and livestock farming:

1. Agriculture appeared when people discovered that seeds which fell to the ground grew into new plants. The first domesticated plants were cereals such as wheat and rice.
2. Livestock farming, appeared when they started to confining animals  (sheep, goats, pigs and oxen) in pens to use then as a meat source, instead of hunting. 

• Sedentary way of life. In order to take care of their fields of crops and herds, farmers adopted a sedentary way of life with two main consequences:

1. Apparition of hamlets, located on the banks of the rivers. First they were made of bamboo cabins reinforced with clay and later stone and adobe house. 
2. Apparition of different trades, along with farmers and herdsmen, craftsmen that made tools that exchanged for food, for example potters and weavers.

Potter.

Weaver

New inventions.

The main inventions of the Neolithic period were:

• Development of the grinding or polishing tecnique to make stone tools. This technique has several advantages:

1. Eliminated rough edges.
2. Made stone more resistant.
3. Allow to make new tools, necessary to carry out agricultural tasks such as hoes, sickles, pestles and mortars.

Stone hoe, used to work the ground.

Stone sickle to harvest crops.

Stone mortar and pestle.

•  Pottery was made by hand from clay then baked in a fire. It was used to store and cook food.
• Woven textiles were made from linen and wool and were woven in looms.

Loom.

 Society.

The productive economy the following social changes:

1. Enormous increase in the population.
2. Apparition of rulers who coordinated defence, water use and collective works. Over time, they became political authorities.
3. Apparition of social inequalities with different social groups distinguished by their wealth and labour.

 Religious beliefs.

 The main religious rites were dedicated to:

1. astrological entities, which guided the sowing and harvesting.
2. the mother goddess, who ensured the fertility.
3. the dead.

The most important art form was decorated pottery.