NeolithicEurope.pptVIP

Neolithic Europe Ca. 8,000-4,000 B.P. Neolithic Neolithic Revolution: Domestication of Plants and Animals in the Old World. Defined by the presence of sedentary villages and domesticated plants and animals. The Neolithic in other parts of the Old World is defined by the appearance of these characteristics at different times some parts of the world were still largely pre-agricultural early in this century. Neolithic expansion from 7-6,000 BP Neolithic economies emerge in Europe ca. 8000-6000 RCYBP Origins debated Local development? Diffusion from SW Asia? Neolithic economies spread rapidly Generally earlier in southern eastern Europe Neolithic communities vary greatly across space through time By 6000-5000 BP most all of Europe was utilizing Neolithic lifeways Neolithic Climate The origins and history of European Neolithic culture are closely connected with the postglacial climate and forest development. The increasing temperature after the late Dryas period during the Pre-Boreal and the Boreal (c. 8000-5500 BC, determined by radiocarbon dating) caused a remarkable change in late glacial flora and fauna. The zones Neolithic farming in Europe developed on its own lines in the four different ecological zones. These are: the Mediterranean zone of evergreen forest and winter rains; north of the Pyrenees, the Alps, and the Balkans, the temperate zone of deciduous forest and evenly distributed annual rainfall; still farther north the circumpolar taiga, or coniferous forest (the only zone to remain free of agriculture and stock breeding); and to the southeast the western end of the Eurasian Steppe. Three major divisions of the temperate zone Divisions western Europe, from the Atlantic to the Vosges and Alps and including the British Isles; the loesslands of central Europe, including the Ukraine and limited by the Balkans and the Harz; and the northern province, that portion of the Eurasiatic plain lying between the Rhine and the Vistula and includin