NAME:_________________________________
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DATE:_____________
Neolithic Communites
The first Neolithic communities lived in densely built settlements and
numbered 50-300 individuals. During the Middle Neolithic, the basic unit of
society was the clan or extended family that consisted of parents, children,
grandparents and other close members. Its members lived in one or more
neighboring houses, that formed households sharing hearths (fireplace) and
ovens situated in open spaces for common use, in between the houses. These
households practiced a mixed farming and animal raising economy.
Production was shared and did not allow for economic wealth and therefore
people did not feel jealousy towards others. The social roles in each
community were defined on the basis of gender, age, and participation in
communal processes. Through the farming and animal raising economy the
roles of both sexes were defined. Judging from the numerous female
figurines, the role of the woman in Neolithic society seems to have been
somewhat important. Existing data has not provided though clear evidence
as to whether Neolithic society was female or male centered.
From the beginning of the Late Neolithic an increase in population has been
observed, with changes in the number and the inner organization of
settlements, as well as in economy. In architecture, large, rectangular
buildings were used, capable of housing large families. Hearths and ovens
ceased to be commonly used and were constructed in the interior of houses.
In economy there was specialization (pursuing a particular line of work) in
production e.g. in pottery and jewelry of seashell, while at the same time
cultural and trade developed. This brought about changes in community
makeup, the main unit of which was by now the nuclear family. The first
attempts at specialization in production, developing trade and exchanges had
a clear impact on communal work and social relationships, which
characterized previous periods. New conditions and values developing in
Neolithic society were reflected in distinctive objects, owned only by a few
members of the community during the Late Neolithic. These objects were
symbols of social power and consisted of: leaf-shaped arrow heads, jewelry
of gold or silver (ring idol pendants, strips of gold), jewelry of seashell and
copper tools.
Guided Reading Questions:
1) They way people lived changed from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic Age but
according to the reading the way people lived changed drastically from the beginning to
the end of the Neolithic Age. What changed occurred during the Neolithic Age and what
evidence supports these changes?