The Beginnings of Agriculture and Modern Humans (20)

Question 1

Define Neolithic Revolution

Answer 1

¬ Neolithic Revolution: change from nomadic to village way of life; characterized by domestication of plants and animals, and construction of permanent

Question 2

What are two hybrids important for agriculture

Answer 2

emmer

and one Made from cross b/w emmer and another wild goat grass

Question 3

explain hybrid of emmer

Answer 3

1. a fertile hybrid produced by crossing wild goat grass with wild wheat
   ♣ Larger than wild types
   ♣ Able to spread naturally by scattering in wind

Question 4

explain second hybrid

Answer 4

1. Made from cross b/w emmer and another wild goat grass
   ♣ Larger still + did not break up in wind
   ♣ Large grains could be ground into flour and used w/ water to make Dampier
   ♣ Later yeast discovered= make bread

Question 5

where did domestication of crops occur

Answer 5

occurred more than once, + at different sites around world

Question 6

What cops did china domesticate

Answer 6

rice, millet, soybeans, yams domesticated

Question 7

what crops did central America domesticate

Answer 7

(no natural forms of wheat grow) = maize became cultivated crop, white and sweet potato, + beans, peanuts, pumpkin, tomato + more

Question 8

What is comparison of plant and crop variety of Old World (europe and asia) and america

Answer 8

America= large number of plant varieties contrasts with Old World (Europe and Asia) where relied on wheat and barley for carbohydrates, and lentils and peas for protein

Question 9

Compare amount of animal domestication of New world and old world

Answer 9

o Old World: large number

o New World: comparatively few species suitable for domestication

Question 10

first animal domesticated and where

Answer 10

• 1st animals domesticated= Sheep

o In South West Asia= 11 000 years ago

Question 11

how long after sheep did pigs, goats, cattle and other animals become domesticated

Answer 11

2-3000 years later

Question 12

In early agriculture settlements (SW Asia + mediterraion) called and what occured

Answer 12

• (fertile crescent region)

o Farming was supplemented in these regions by fishing, hunting, and animals attracted by crops slaughtered for food

Question 13

What are the results of surplus food related to agriculture (5 steps)

Answer 13

1. surplus
2. Stored
3. more people supported on area of land than possible for hunter gatherer
4. villages developed as self sufficient communities
5. more food > increase birth rate > larger villages

Question 14

What did settled life allow development for and examples

Answer 14

• Settled life allowed development of new tools and techniques
  o E.g. pottery, weaving, metallurgy

Question 15

why did farming in australia never develop

Answer 15

absence of naturally occurring grasses and animals not suitable for domestication

Question 16

Why are modern humans unlike early hominins in relation to environment dependance

Answer 16

• Unlike australopithecines and early homo (restricted to living in favorable environments), modern humans able to live comfortably anywhere on earth

Question 17

technology allowed modern humans to..

Answer 17

modify environment to suit ourselves, to easily travel, to extend life expectancy

Question 18

What is difference in personal in food production compared to early hominins

Answer 18

• Our society= complex

o Relatively few members in food production, while most occupied in other pursuits

Question 19

In modern humans, what do we have a reduced effect of and what does it result in in terms of future evolution

Answer 19

• Reduced influence of selective agents such as environment and disease, natural selection lesser important in future evolution
  o Likely that any future evolution of Homo sapiens will be driven in changes in culture and technology

Question 20

What has Recent change in nomadic hunters and gatherers to living in environments created by them result in

Answer 20

• This change means we are not biologically suited to the way of life we live now
  o = far reaching implications in areas such as behavior, health, diet, and relationships with one another

Question 21

How are humans today still evolving

Answer 21

• both biologically and culturally
  o No control over biological evolution
  ♣ Nature selects characteristics most suited to survival + those characteristics passed on
  ♣ E.g. malaria present countries= show resistance to malaria increasing
  o Cultural=
  ♣ how we direct cultural evolution to solve problems
  ♣ e.g. people in many countries working to solve climate change