Neolithic Agricultural Revolution

Definition

The Neolithic Agricultural Revolution refers to the transition from nomadic hunting and gathering communities to settled farming societies during the Stone Age.

Analogy

Imagine switching from being a tourist who constantly travels around different cities (hunter-gatherer lifestyle) to settling down and buying a house in one city (agricultural lifestyle). That's what happened during this revolution - people stopped moving around so much and started 'putting down roots'.

Related terms

Domestication: This is when humans intervene with breeding processes of animals or plants over generations to accentuate traits desirable for them.

Sedentism: This term refers to when people began living permanently in one place instead of moving around to find food.

Crop Rotation: This is a farming practice where different types of crops are grown in the same area in sequential seasons. It was an important development during the Neolithic Agricultural Revolution.