Neolithic Revolution and the Renaissance Effects on History

The Neolithic Revolution and the Renaissance provided mankind with new ways of life. Although these advancements in architecture, agriculture, education and ideas transpired in different periods of history, they both had massive effects on our way of life today. Without these revolutions, our lives today would be unrecognizable. Life was drastically different before the Neolithic Revolution. During the Paleolithic Period, people were nomads. They lived in groups of 20-30, and survived solely off their surroundings by hunting animals and gathering various plants. Roles were based on gender; men hunted and women gathered plants. They developed simple tools such as spears and axes out of materials such as stone, bone and wood. Human beings lived in this manner until about 10,000 BCE, when they started to cultivate crops and domesticate animals. This is known as the Neolithic Revolution. The Neolithic Revolution is a major turning point in human history. It was a fundamental change in the way people lived. The shift from hunting & gathering to agriculture led to permanent settlements, the establishment of social classes, new technologies, and the eventual rise of civilizations. Another effect of this revolution was the advanced form of a society. Class systems arose, with the Council of Elders at the top, and farms, merchants and craftsmen at the bottom. After a period of little education or values, Europe was ready for advancement. It was a time of creativity and change in Europe. The Renaissance was centered in Italy during the 1300s before spreading to the rest of Europe in the 1500 and 1600s. Achievements in art, literature, science and ideas made this period a golden age. Ideas such as Humanism became widely popular during the Renaissance. Humanism stressed the importance of education. The study of ancient Roman and Greet texts became the learning standard. Humanism also stressed the importance of focusing on the present, rather than the