Thursday, September 5, 2013

Was the Neolithic Revolution the most important advancement or the worst mistake in human history?

            From 10000 B.C. to 4000B.C., civilization dramatically changed due to advancements in technology and new ideas, an event called the Neolithic Revolution. Whether this change was for the better or for the worse is the question historians ask today. On the positive side, one could argue that technology such as the ability to have agriculture has allowed for a better way of life for Neolithic people. In contrast, others may state that the explosion of ideas and resources caused a need for war between former peaceful villages. While both sides of the argument have their respective ideas, I believe that the combined improvements in everyday life and ideology overall should be considered an important advancement rather than a horrible mistake.

            One result of the Neolithic Revolution was an abundance of technological improvements, which led to a better way of life for many people. For example, nomads learned to harvest crops and domesticate animals. Previously, people had to migrate according to where there was food. With this technique, one could stay in one place and have a reliable source of food. This led to many villagers being able to have job specializations rather than all hunting or gathering. Also, Neolithic people learned to build sturdy structures both for defense, and long time settlement. This simple advancement allowed for comfort and a desire to improve other areas from villagers. This was significant for the abundance of innovations that came later.


            The Neolithic Revolution also provided a time where new ideas and beliefs sprouted from the basic roots of civilization. For instance, a new interest in the study of life after death and multiple gods emerged. The Neolithics believed in life after death, which influenced the way they buried their respected elders and villagers. Also, the villagers developed shrines for their multiple gods and goddesses which created a basis for modern day deities. Another major change was in government where a social hierarchy was created and enforced. From this, a sense of leadership was brought forward; a leader could make efficient and effective decisions for the entire village.  

3 comments:

  1. Good Jeremy. I really like that you are exploring both sides of this question, and give good evidence on either side. Well done!

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  2. Nice post. Your topic sentences are really nice and outline what you're going to talk about for your paragraph really well. Good analysis and points.

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  3. That was great. It was well written, and your ideas were clearly stated. Only thing I can think of is to possibly go into a tiny bit more detail about the more important points. Good post.

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