The Neolithic Revolution: The First Agricultural Revolution

The change that occurred during the Neolithic Revolution was a major turning point, causing a shift from the Paleolithic Era to the Neolithic Era, changing the course of human history. The Neolithic Revolution, also known as the first Agricultural Revolution, was a dramatic and wide reaching change in the way that humans lived. The Agricultural Revolution significantly changed the course of human history, and ultimately led to the birth of civilization. The first, most prominent step toward change that occurred during the Agricultural Revolution was the change in the way that people acquired food. During the Paleolithic Age, people were hunter-gatherers, who relied on foraging and hunting for food. However, during the Neolithic Age, the practices of agriculture and the domestication of animals were utilized. The comic titled “Why Hunt? Why Gather? Join the Neolithic Revolution!” by the Science Museum of Minnesota demonstrates how people realized that relying on agriculture for food, rather than hunting, was their key to a better life. …show more content…
This occurred first in the “Fertile Crescent” or Mesopotamia, in what is now modern day Iraq. From a geographic standpoint, this a perfectly logical area for the Agricultural Revolution to begin, because of the fertile soil the region offers. This valley was also between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, therefore irrigation systems could be set up with ease. The document from The Agricultural Systems of the World by D. B. Grigg summarizes how different cultures around the world utilized agriculture, and changes in agriculture that occurred during the Neolithic Revolution. For example, the number of domesticated plants grown increased, like flax, peas, and lentils. Another example would be how there was no evidence of milking until the late fourth