Human Civilization

Essay # 62857

Anthropology
Archaeology
History

Human Civilization

A discussion of three important developments for human civilization.

778 words () | 1 source | MLA | 2005 United States

Paper Summary:

Many developments throughout history have had a great impact on human civilization. Some developments have had a positive effect and some have had negative effects. This essay discusses three developments or revolutions that have positively affected the history of humans: The agriculture revolution, scientific evolution and the evolution of writing. It explains how all have significantly affected human civilization and changed the way humans ate, thought, communicated and lived.

From the Paper:

"The Agriculture Revolution, which took place during the Neolithic Age, is a positive development throughout history because it allowed humans to settle down and live a sedentary life. Before agriculture, humans relied on hunting and gathering, or raising animals for their food. Both created a nomadic lifestyle because hunters migrated with the animals and herders would have to move with their animals when grazing was exhausted (Adler 9). The shift to sedentary life was slow but ultimately led to a larger population and human civilization. This change created villages and towns where people lived and worked. The villages and towns, in turn, created culture. These villages allowed specialization of other occupations because it was not necessary for every individual to farm. The textbook says, "Efforts were more productive for the entire community if people specialized" (Adler 9). This revolution also created the idea of privately owned property and systematized regulation. Farmers wanted "permanent possession" of their land and systematized regulation enforced these rights (Adler 9). Another positive effect from the Agriculture Revolution was the growth of public role for women. These dramatic changes in human life were very gradual. Even though it took 200 to 400 years to complete this development, the Agriculture Revolution forever changed human life."