THE CONCEPT OF NEOLITHIC REVOLUTION

THE CONCEPT OF NEOLITHIC REVOLUTION

The agro-pastoral cultural developments of the early Holocene were labelled as ‘Neolithic Revolution’ by V. Gordon Childe in 1941. The Neolithic and Chalcolithic cultures were treated as food producing economies by him. The idea of Neolithic Revolution refers to the origin of agriculture, animal domestication and a settled way of life. It indicates the transformation of society from a food gathering (hunting-gathering) economy to a food producing (agropastoral) economy. The idea of revolution pertaining to the Neolithic way of life signifies a major transformation in human cultural adaptation. Miles Burkitt identified the Neolithic culture with polished tools, animal and plant domestication. Thus, the ‘Neolithic’ does not denote the use of new tools (Figure 4.2) alone, but also new modes of adaptation and ways of life.

The introduction of domestication of plants and animals led to the production of a large quantity of grains and animal food. The food that they produced had to be stored and hence, pottery-making emerged. They had to settle in open areas away from caves and thus, houses were built. Large villages developed and permanent residences were built. Settlements were fenced since the cattle and sheep had to be protected. These activities gradually led to food surplus and craft specialization. Because of the food security more people could settle in the villages. Hence, the cultural developments of this period are termed as Neolithic Revolution. The surplus food production was one of the main factors for the development of early urban cultures at a later context. It allowed for the development of various crafts, urban formations and early states in the succeeding Bronze Age.

#History #UPSC #BPSC #StatePSC #SSC