The Neolithic era occurred at the end of the stone age and was responsible for several significant changes in the course of human history. Serious improvements were made in social structure, agriculture, architecture, and culture. The change from being hunter-gatherers to farmers and harvesters was so important, that the Neolithic period is often called the Agricultural revolution.
The pre-pottery, also known as the early and middle Neolithic periods, a basic unit in society would have consisted of immediate families such as parents, children, grandparents, and some extended kinship (Blakemore, 2019). The roles within the larger society were defined depending on gender, age, kinship, and participation in productive work around the community. There is no clear evidence to indicate whether the society was matriarchal or patriarchal. As groups became larger, new challenges arose which required better social systems. Societies also became more complex due to larger agricultural villages, cities, city-states, and states (Khan Academy, n.d.). Specialized abilities and work also led to distinct social classes.
The Neolithic era was important to the foundation of agriculture, as it led to the Agricultural revolution. This process is what encouraged societies to move from being hunter-gatherers to agricultural specialists. The specific reasons for the transition are uncertain, a varied collection of evidence exists that the process began in different places at similar times (Khan Academy, n.d.). High competition for foraged foods and the need to involve elders and children in food cultivation likely led to farming. Technical advancements like eating modified plants, polished stone tools, and animal domestication were also becoming more common (Davis, 2019). Human selection and breeding of certain plants that occurred during the Neolithic era is especially noticeable in the current day with plants such as corn.
The architecture of the Neolithic era would be difficult to recreate today as much of it was made from materials that would decay quickly. Evidence of huts made of mammoth bones was found to be between 13 and 33 feet in diameter (Bee Breeders, n.d.). They often had hearths inside and in later Neolithic years, structures often became sturdier. Many homes were created from timber with branches and mud creating strong walls. However, in Europe, many of the discovered homes were made from stone. Ceremonial or religious structures were also often made of stone and survive to this day. Tombs were also frequently constructed within large rocks with complicated tunnels and mounds of rocks (English Heritage, n.d.). Additionally, the Neolithic period saw the rise of geometric designs in large structures and engravings.
The Neolithic culture of the Near East, where much of the early evidence of the era has been found, can be separated into three phases. The first pre-pottery Neolithic age, the second pre-pottery Neolithic age, and the pottery Neolithic age (History, 2019). This is primarily because each period was distinct from one another in terms of culture. The first pre-pottery period was focused on the improvement of farming, harvesting, seed selection, and domestication. These values were visible in places made for worship which had pillars engraved with sacred symbols. The second pre-pottery period was still concerned with animals but also valued advanced tools. The culture of burials was also more distinct with evidence of preserved skulls and mud instead of facial features. The pottery period depicts very distinct cultures such as the Halafian and Ubaid cultures in the Fertile Crescent (Lumen Learning, n.d.). Cultures in other parts of the world were also becoming more diverse with their unique religious practices, burial rites, and social norms.
The improvements to agriculture, society, architecture, and culture made during the Neolithic period have had an undeniable impact on many aspects of the modern world. From technical innovations such as seed selection to burial rituals, there are traces of the practices of ancestors that continue to be visible in today’s society.
References
Bee Breeders. (n.d.). 4 Simple Concepts of Prehistoric Architecture. Bee Breeders. Web.
Blakemore, N. (2019). What was the Neolithic Revolution? National Geographic. Web.
Davis, J. (2019). Neolithic Britain: where did the first farmers come from?. Natural History Museum. Web.
English Heritage. (n.d.). Neolithic Houses. English Heritage. Web.
History. (2019). Neolithic Revolution. History. Web.
Khan Academy. (n.d.). The dawn of agriculture. Khan Academy. Web.
Khan Academy. (n.d.). Social, political, and environmental characteristics of early civilizations. Khan Academy. Web.
Lumen Learning. (n.d.). The Neolithic Period. Lumen Learning. Web.