History of econmic thoughts: Transition from Hunting to Agriculture - Essay Example

Running Head: Neolithic Revolution Neolithic Revolution [Institute’s Neolithic Revolution The Neolithic revolution, which is also known as the first agricultural revolution, occurred between 10000-7000 years ago predominantly in the tropical and subtropical areas of central Africa and America along with southwestern and southern Asia. Note that the Neolithic revolution embraced more than just agricultural practices. More importantly, it marked the beginning of sedentary or settled societies, which enabled greater food production thereby leading to greater population densities and the subsequent development of art, architecture, and civilization.

The seeds of the transition from hunting to agriculture began around 1200 years ago during “the Paleolithic era when fire made it possible for humans to spread beyond Africa towards Europe, Asia, North and South America and Australia” (Ofer, pp. 141-163). Some of these establishments became sedentary and thus started establishing agriculture. It was a realization that agriculture was fundamental for establishing a strong civilization. Later on, more intensive agricultural techniques were established which build foundations for a stronger civilization.

Some of these civilizations were established in modern day Russia and areas of Middle East (where the Natufian complex was found). However, most of these civilizations died out around 9000 B.C.E perhaps due to the aridity of the region (Ofer, pp. 141-163). The Neolithic revolution formally began around 8000 B.C.E in the Fertile Crescent (Jericho and Catal Huyuk). Note that there were no written records found which record this transition from the hunter gathering lifestyle to that of an agro based society, climatic changes at the end of the ice age was a major driver towards the agricultural revolution.

Subsequent shortages of animals to sustain a larger population and an inability to maintain surpluses for a long time implied that the Neolithic revolution was inevitable. Plants cultivated included wild grains, barley, and wheat. This transition from agriculture was slow and developed more when more cultivable plants were discovered (Weisdorf, pp. 561-86). Domestication of animals also began. “Dogs, sheep, goats and pigs were the first ones to be domesticated around 8500 B.C.E cattle were domesticated around 6500 B.C.E” (Weisdorf, pp. 561-86). Animal domestication was important to increase agricultural productivity and for their supplies of materials such as wool for clothing.

These agricultural practices, however took some time to spread throughout the human civilizations of that age. There were times when hunter-gatherers and agricultural societies continue to exist at the same time. There were also pastoral societies most of which were in arid areas incapable of producing a large agricultural surplus. Around 8000-5000 B.C.E, agricultural techniques spread out from the Fertile Crescent to other areas like India and Europe. It also spread to Egypt around river Nile and around 2000 B.C.E to Africa and then China (Hole, pp. 49-60). Rice, maize and sweet potatoes were then produced in Southeast Asia.

Soon, the Neolithic revolution thereby lead to a rapidly expanding population, the development of towns and cities and innovations such as ploughs, irrigation, seed selection and storage techniques. It leads to the creation of social classes and economic specialization. Ideas and innovations spread from the initial cities of Jericho and Catal Huyuk to other areas. Soon other cities such as those of Sumer and Egypt also adopted a similar means of living and subsequently there came the bronze revolution around 4000 B.C.E (Greco, 1994) Thus, to summarize, one can say how the development of Neolithic revolution began during the Paleolithic age when there was basic farming practiced around Russia and by the Natufians.

Although these practices were unsuccessful, the end of the ice age lead there practices to emerge. The first ones to develop farming were those around the Fertile Crescent. Soon other areas also adopted similar practices. Animals were domesticated and then other agricultural innovations developed and these innovations then spread to other parts of the world. These innovations played a major role to increase the productivity of the land and thus even more areas adopted these agricultural practices.

Although the development of agriculture began with wheat, more crops were later added by many other regions. All these developments then lead to stronger and better civilizations and subsequently, these activities played a major role towards the Bronze Age and later developments of man. Work Cited Greco, L. “Introduction.” Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology & Nutrition. Volume 24, Issue 1: 1994: pp. 14-17. Hole, Frank. “A Reassessment of the Neolithic Revolution.” Paleorient. Volume 10, 1984: pp. 49-60. Ofer, Bar-Yosef.

“On the Nature of Transitions: the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic and the Neolithic Revolution.” Cambridge Archaeological Journal. Volume 8, 1998: pp. 141-163. Weisdorf, Jacob L. “From Foraging to Farming: Explaining the Neolithic Revolution.” Journal of Economic Surveys. Volume 19, Issue 4, 1996: pp. 561–586.