Early Humans Unit: Neolithic Social Organization - Heirarchical or Egalitarian? (Quote Sandwich Activity)
Assignments to hand in: Quote Sandwich Graphic Organizer [Word Version]
introduction:
What form of social order or government did the people who lived from 8,000 to 3,000 B.C.E. live under? Hierarchical societies or societies with "rulers set apart from others," are typically organized so that somepeople have more power than others. The more powerful people usually have more wealth and a higher social status (rank) than others in the society. By contrast, egalitarian - or "equal" - societies are societies in which people share power and wealth. People often work toether and share the rewards of their work.
Step 1: Article - Social Organization in the Neolithic Period - Look at the pictures and text below and read the following article: Social Organization in the Neolithic Period.
This is a clay statue of a seated goddess giving birth to a child. The goddess is supported by two lions, and both her head and the head of the lion on the right have been restored. This Neolithic artifact was found in a grain-filled bin in the storeroom of a shrine at Catal Hoyuk in Turkey. The restored statue is about 8 inches tall.
Recently, some scholars have suggested that Neolithic people related to one another in a more equal, or egalitarian, way. They point to archeological evidence found at Catal Hoyuk to support their theories. First, the buildings at Catal Hoyuk are of fairly equal size and contain mostly equal-size rooms, suggesting the people held generally equal social positions. Second, shrines were located in all parts of the city, suggesting that worship in Neolithic society was more equal, community experience. Items found in shrines, such as mirrors used by female priestesses and bone fasterners used by male priests, suggest that both men and women held important positions in Neolithic society.
Three Neolithic female figureines made of terra cotta. Found in Ovcarovo, Bulgaria, they are a little over 2 inches tall and date back to the third and fourth millennia B.C.E.
Traditionally, scholars have believed that Neolithic society was hierarchical, or organized with only some people having power and wealth. Most of these scholars have assumed that society was probably ruled by men, or was a patriarchy. Other scholars believed that Neolithic society was ruled by women, or was a matriarchy. These scholars believe that the female figurines found at many archeological sites are evidence of women being ranked higher than men in Neolithic society. However, few scholars still hold this view.
Step 2: Quote Sandwich Prompt - How will historians classify the United States many years from now?
Step 3: Brainstorm Notes - Complete the Note-Taking Graphic Organizer [Word Version] by re-reading through the article to find characteristics/topics and back them up with quotes and examples from the text. For example:
Step 4: Quote Sandwich - Complete the Quote Sandwich Graphic Organizer [Word Version] - Rubric
Student Exemplar Explained [Written by Jessica B. - Edited by Mrs. Bettez]
Bonus - Comprehension Questions - Answer in complete sentences on a separate piece of paper.
1. What are the basic differences between an hierarchy and an egalitarian society? Provide examples.
2. What evidence do archeologists and other scholars have to determine which type of society existed in Neolithic times?
3. Were Neolithic societies patriarchical or matriarchical? What do the scholars have to say about this?
4. What type of society is the United States now? What characteristics does the U.S. have of both types of societies?