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Ancient Civiliazations Of The Near East And Europe

A2. The European progression from Mesolithic culture to Neolithic culture arose late in comparison to the rest of the world. In other parts of the world Neolithic cultures sprang up as early as 9000 B.C. However, in Europe, the progression did not occur until around 4500 B.C. An assortment of cultures arose during the late Neolithic in Europe resulting from a variety of factors.
The end of the hunter-gatherer way of life accelerated the progression to an agrarian lifestyle. As a result of this progression populations began to grow denser around fledgling farming communities creating a greater need for agriculture advancement. The growing dependence on agriculture fostered agricultural innovation. Innovations such as plowing and irrigation aided the progression to agrarian society. Agricultural techniques were adopted in accordance to the environment in which the techniques were required. In Northern Europe innovations such as the clearing of forests in order to produce land for the rearing of domesticated animals was adopted. In the East, tribes of the steppe acquired slash and burn techniques in order to produce fertile land for crops. The consolidation of dependence on agricultural centers facilitated the emergence of unique cultures throughout the different geo-environmental regions of Europe.
The characteristics of Neolithic culture in Europe were dependent upon the unique aspects of each region. Geography, environment, and resources play a large role in the development of different cultures. In the North, in heavily forested areas architecture is primarily made of timber. Whereas in other regions, such as the Mediterranean, stone might be more commonly used. Another example seen during the late Neolithic in Europe is the emergence of metallurgy, a common characteristic of Neolithic society, in areas with mineral resources. Cultural characteristics are derived from the way of life that results from the application of the harnessing of the resources of an...