Neolithic Revolution

The Neolithic Revolution (pronounced: /ˌniːəˈlɪθɪk/), also known as the New Stone Age Revolution, refers to the period in history when humans transitioned from hunter-gatherer societies to settled agriculture and animal husbandry. This transition marked a significant change in human history and is considered the first major milestone in the development of civilization.

Etymology

The term "Neolithic Revolution" was coined by V. Gordon Childe, an Australian archaeologist, in the 1930s. The term "Neolithic" comes from the Greek words "neos" meaning "new" and "lithos" meaning "stone", referring to the new methods of stone tool production during this period.

Overview

The Neolithic Revolution is believed to have started around 10,000 BCE in the Fertile Crescent, a region in the Middle East which includes modern-day Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, and parts of Turkey and Iran. During this period, humans began to cultivate crops and domesticate animals, leading to a shift from nomadic lifestyles to settled farming communities. This shift resulted in significant changes in human society and the environment, including population growth, the development of social stratification, and deforestation.

Related Terms

Agriculture: The practice of cultivating plants and rearing animals for food, fiber, medicinal plants, and other products used to sustain and enhance human life.
Hunter-gatherer: A human living in a society in which most or all food is obtained by foraging (collecting wild plants and pursuing wild animals).
Civilization: Any complex society characterized by urban development, social stratification, a form of government, and symbolic systems of communication.
Fertile Crescent: A crescent-shaped region in the Middle East, spanning modern-day Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Egypt, and parts of Turkey and Iran, where agriculture and early human civilizations like the Sumer and Ancient Egypt flourished due to inundations from the surrounding Nile, Euphrates, and Tigris rivers.

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Neolithic Revolution
Wikipedia's article - Neolithic Revolution

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.

Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski

Neolithic Revolution