As we said in our previous article on Neolithic societies, The main characteristic of this period of history was the appearance of new ways of life based on agriculture. Let us then see why and how this significant change occurred.
Illustration depicting life in a farming village
Adaptation to the Environment
The climate change that occurred on the planet produced the extinction of many of the species of plants and animals that served as food for human groups. Added to this was another problem: the population increased and more and more resources were needed.
Both factors (change in environment and greater need for resources) forced man to seek new forms of adaptation to the environment to survive. East process is called “Neolithic Revolution”, and it was very complex, slow and gradual.
Instead of hunting the animals, they were penned, fed, and cared for. Some were killed for consumption and others – the best – were used for reproduction. Thus was born the cattle raising. The first domesticated animals for food were goats, sheep, cattle and pigs.
In the case of cerealsthe men observed in the nature their reproductive cycle and then sought to imitate the process, thus developing the technique of the farming. Over time they learned to improve the land with fertilizers and build irrigation canals to ensure enough water. The first crops They were wheat and barley.
In this way, man for the first time takes part in natural reproduction, and becomes food producer.
cultural production
The Neolithic is characterized by the appearance of important technological innovations. To do the work of sowing Y harvest they created tools sharp with the mentioned stone polishing technique. Later they also invented the wheel and built vehicles pulled by oxen or donkeys.
Around 5000 BC they began to work the metals (first the copper) that was melted and molded to make different utensils. Later they managed to make the first alloy (mixture of copper with tin) from which they obtained bronzewhich supplanted stone for tool making.
The invention of ceramics It was essential to be able to preserve food. Other important innovations were the invention of weaving, basketry, and carpentry.
In addition to some symbolic manifestations that are similar to those of the previous stage of the Paleolithic (statuettes and burials with offerings) appear in the neolithic large works we call monumental (menhirs, dolmens and other ritual enclosures) generally built with large stones.
Stonehenge stone circle in Great Britain
Its meaning continues to be associated with their beliefs about death or rituals to ask for abundance and fertility from the forces of nature. The ancestors and the seasons of the year and the stars (sun, moon, etc.) were also worshiped.
Sources:
ES 1, Social Sciences, in: portal abc
Universal History 1. Prehistory and early civilizations. Barcelona, publisher Sol 90, 2004.
Images: abc portal