| Writing Exercises: The Neolithic Revolution and Early Civilizations |
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| www.studenthandouts.com > World History > Neolithic Revolution > Neolithic Worksheets |
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Answer each of the following questions using complete sentences. 1. Describe the transition from the Neolithic Revolution to early civilizations. The Neolithic Revolution (10,000-4,500 B.C.E.) saw the shift from hunting-gathering to farming and settled life, enabling population growth and surplus production. By the Chalcolithic and Bronze Ages (5,000-1,200 B.C.E.), advancements in metallurgy, trade, and social organization led to stratified societies, urban centers, and writing systems—key traits of early civilizations like Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Indus Valley. This transition laid the foundation for complex economies, governance, and cultural development in the ancient world. 2. What caused the rise of cities? The rise of cities was fueled by agricultural surplus, which supported larger, sedentary populations. Advances in irrigation and tool technology boosted productivity, while trade networks facilitated resource exchange. Social stratification emerged, with elites organizing labor for monumental buildings and defense. The development of writing and administration enabled record-keeping and governance. Together, these factors allowed early settlements—like Uruk and Mohenjo-Daro—to grow into the world's first cities around 3500-2000 B.C.E. 3. Describe the political systems that developed in early river valley civilizations. Early river valley civilizations developed hierarchical political systems centered on strong, centralized authority. In Mesopotamia, city-states were ruled by priest-kings (lugals) who controlled temples and resources. Egypt had a divine pharaoh overseeing a bureaucratic elite. The Indus Valley likely had oligarchic councils managing trade and urban planning, while China's Xia and Shang dynasties combined royal rule with feudal nobility. These systems relied on religion, military power, and administrative control to maintain order and manage large-scale irrigation and construction projects. Click here to print (PDF file). Answers will vary. |
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| www.studenthandouts.com > World History > Neolithic Revolution > Neolithic Worksheets |
