The Beginnings of Agriculture and Modern Humans (20) Flashcards
Define Neolithic Revolution
¬ Neolithic Revolution: change from nomadic to village way of life; characterized by domestication of plants and animals, and construction of permanent
What are two hybrids important for agriculture
emmer
and one Made from cross b/w emmer and another wild goat grass
explain hybrid of emmer
- a fertile hybrid produced by crossing wild goat grass with wild wheat
♣ Larger than wild types
♣ Able to spread naturally by scattering in wind
explain second hybrid
- 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
where did domestication of crops occur
occurred more than once, + at different sites around world
What cops did china domesticate
rice, millet, soybeans, yams domesticated
what crops did central America domesticate
(no natural forms of wheat grow) = maize became cultivated crop, white and sweet potato, + beans, peanuts, pumpkin, tomato + more
What is comparison of plant and crop variety of Old World (europe and asia) and america
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
Compare amount of animal domestication of New world and old world
o Old World: large number
o New World: comparatively few species suitable for domestication
first animal domesticated and where
- 1st animals domesticated= Sheep
o In South West Asia= 11 000 years ago
how long after sheep did pigs, goats, cattle and other animals become domesticated
2-3000 years later
In early agriculture settlements (SW Asia + mediterraion) called and what occured
- (fertile crescent region)
o Farming was supplemented in these regions by fishing, hunting, and animals attracted by crops slaughtered for food
What are the results of surplus food related to agriculture (5 steps)
- surplus
- Stored
- more people supported on area of land than possible for hunter gatherer
- villages developed as self sufficient communities
- more food > increase birth rate > larger villages
What did settled life allow development for and examples
- Settled life allowed development of new tools and techniques
o E.g. pottery, weaving, metallurgy
why did farming in australia never develop
absence of naturally occurring grasses and animals not suitable for domestication
Why are modern humans unlike early hominins in relation to environment dependance
- Unlike australopithecines and early homo (restricted to living in favorable environments), modern humans able to live comfortably anywhere on earth
technology allowed modern humans to..
modify environment to suit ourselves, to easily travel, to extend life expectancy
What is difference in personal in food production compared to early hominins
- Our society= complex
o Relatively few members in food production, while most occupied in other pursuits
In modern humans, what do we have a reduced effect of and what does it result in in terms of future evolution
- 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
What has Recent change in nomadic hunters and gatherers to living in environments created by them result in
- 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
How are humans today still evolving
- 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
