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This portion of the web site contains some essays intended as a very general introduction to the "Neolithic," a troubled term referring to the time (or stage) when humans shifted from being primarily foragers to being primarily food producers.
Given the intended use of these essays as a course readings, I have avoided citations to the published literature as much as possible. For expansions on most of the topics useful materials can be found on the Internet, and especially as a first step in Wikipedia, although the discussion here tells the "story" more smoothly.
Interactive review quizzes are also available for these materials, as shown below.
There are three essays devoted to the Neolithic:
Review quizzes for these three essays:
Multiple-Choice Quizzes:
Quiz 1,
Quiz 2,
Quiz 3
Matching Quizzes:
Quiz 1,
Quiz 2
Essay 1 Dates Quiz
The Neolithic brought on substantial increases in population, and was followed in many parts of the world by the "Metal Ages," particularly the Copper Age or Chalolithic, the Bronze Age, and the Iron Age. A separate essay is provided as an introduction to this topic, with special reference to Mesopotamia.
Review Quizzes:
Multiple Choice Review Quiz,
Dates Quiz
In connection with this, you may also wish to read a general overview of metal and metallurgy in the ancient world (Link).
I have extensively rewritten these four essays (originally a single essay) several times over the years for use in the Making of the Modern World course at UCSD's Eleanor Roosevelt College. However in its very earliest version this material made up part of one chapter of a 1976 textbook written collaboratively with my colleague Marc J. Swartz. I am pleased to express my gratitude to Professor Swartz for his trenchant criticisms of the earliest versions some decades back, and for his gracious willingness to allow its continued modification and its free access by all interested readers.
I am also most grateful to many students and colleagues who have offered comments and corrections in the years since, and especially to Nancy Friedlander, Jacqueline Giordano, and the late Donald Tuzin for their thoughtful views and eagle-eyed proof-reading.