Expert: Conrad T. Jalowski - 8/14/2008

Question
hi conrad, i was wondering is the neolithic era a revolution? Thanks

Answer
Thank you for the question sir. However, please keep in mind that this period in history is not my area of expertise, however, I will do my best to answer it for you.


The different stages of human development in terms of society as a whole, composed of multifarious facets or a conglomeration, is as such:

Egalitarian: Simple hunter-and-gatherer societies where each individual is placed into his or her role where all contribute to the base needs of the society such as food, water and the finding of shelter.

Horticultural/Pastoral: Societies where the transition has been made from circumforaneous circumstances to a more agranian and settled infrastructure of the society. Basic divisions of authority such as master or chief/servant or worker.

Highly Stratified Society: Divisions are more clearer; villages and culture begins to form and as well as government to ensure discipline and order. Appellations of leader or chieftain, traders, servants, gardeners, etc are present.

Highly Complex Societies: River Valley Civilizations with a complex hierarchy, state government and other facets of highly cultured societies.


The Neolithic Age succeeded the Epipaleolithic or Mesolithic Age and was discontinued by the next major age of societal development known as the Chalcolithic Age. The Neolithic Age is subdivided into:

Pre-Pottery Neolithic A

Pre-Pottery Neolithic B

Potter Neolithic:
Levant:

Tell Halaf
Ubaid Period

Europe:

Linear Pottery
Vinca Culture

South Asia:

Mehrgarh Culture

The achievements of the Neolithic Age were farming, animal husbandry, pottery, metallurgy, wheel, circular ditches, henges, megaliths, and Neolithic Religion. The Neolithic Age was a revolution for it drastically changed the lifestyle of individual human beings from a nomadic culture to a more agranian and settled culture and thus the transformation of society as a whole with religion, hierarchies and trade.

Furthermore, there are several competing theories as to how the transition from Paleolithic and Neolithic occured. These several theories are:

The Oasis Theory: Maintains that as the climate became drier, communites agglutinated to oases where animals were found in large quantites and domesticated together with the planting of seeds.

The Hilly Flanks Theory: Agriculture began in the hilly flanks of the Taurus and Zagros mountains where fertile land was supported.

The Feasting Hypothesis: Ostentatious displays of power through the giving of feasts to exert dominance led to the required assembling of large quantities of food.

The Demogrpahic Theories: An increasingly sedentary population which expanded upon the carrying capacity of the local enviroment which required more food than could be gathered.

The Evolutionay/Intentionality Theory: Agriculture is an evolutionary progression and adaptation of humans and animals.

I hope this introduction has aided you in your thirst for knowledge and/or research.


Thank you,

        Conrad Jalowski