Lecture 4 - The Agricultural Emergence

Welcome to the fourth lecture!

This lecture is about the development of agriculture.

This lecture focuses on the agro-pastoral emergence and village societies. The new integrated relationship of the various plants and animals that were brought under human control beginning from about 9,000 BCE onward changed the social and physical structure of life. Trade in obsidian made surpluses possible. In China and Japan we see the emergence of raised platform buildings associated with the cultivation of rice.

To get started, download the Lecture Handout, which outlines important places, terms, and dates addressed in Lecture 4; the document can be used for note-taking and as a study guide. 

Download the Lecture 4 Handout here.

This lecture is divided into six units. Most units have a lecture video, followed by a multiple choice question, or questions. These questions will test what you have just learned; you have one attempt to complete each, and can view the correct answer after submitting a responseYou must complete these questions before 14:00 (UTC) October 1, 2013 to receive credit.

At the end of each lecture is a directed discussion with other members of your course. Discussion of other topics can be addressed in the forum, accessible by clicking "Discussion" in the menu at the top of this page.  

The time to complete this lecture (watching all videos, answering the review questions, and participating in directed discussion) is approximately two hours.