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The Agricultural Revolution and a New Era

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The Agricultural Revolution of the Neolithic Age marked the beginning of a new era in history because it is the foundation of culture, and it shows a shift from the hunter and gathering period to one of systematic agriculture with a focus on trade (Braidwood). It is the beginning of cultural diffusion because people begin to realize the importance of a sustainable resource, and this concept spread from the Fertile River Valley to the rest of the world. From this discovery, new technologies and jobs form to help sustain this new way of life (Early River Valley Civilizations). Like all new periods, this stage in history makes positive and negative effects on the government, cities, religion, art, writing, and social structure (Braidwood). The Agricultural Revolution of the Neolithic Era dramatically impacts society as people began to focus on sustaining life through new farming concepts and techniques, creation of jobs, and cultural diffusion (Braidwood). At the beginning of the Agricultural Revolution, new farming techniques develop and create easier methods to grow, process, and trade goods. This was evident in the creation of new tools throughout the Stone Age. One example of a new tool in the Neolithic age is known as the small jadeite axe only possessed by the wealthy elite. "The circular hole is a later, possibly Bronze Age or ancient Greek, addition. This axe may have served as a votive after its initial utilitarian use in the Stone Age. Such axes were known as thunderstones in ancient Greek times and were believed to be physical manifestations left by the lightning bolts of Zeus, the thunder god  (The Metropolitan Museum of Art). Wanting to understand the tools of this Age, Mr. P Å skrdla, while he was at a Neolithic locality doing a surface survey, discovers the small jadeite axe (New finds of jadeite and nephrite axes). It fit the description of the Neolithic axes because it was triangular, but with an oval figure. People used this particular kind of axe in the Neolithic Era to cut large trees down and to dig deeper into thick soil. While the axe has many utilitarian benefits, it is also thought to be a beautiful object that holds many uses in pagan worship ceremonies; nonetheless, this is just one example of the creation of new tools to make farming more efficient (New finds of jadeite and nephrite axes). With new tools, farming becomes more manageable because tilling the land exerts less effort and focus shifts. The rising efficiency of farming allows people to make a large profit, an

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