Women in prehistory 
Keron Williams
History 131
Assignment: Women in prehistory
01.29.2015
1. Describe societies before the advent of plough [plow] agriculture?
Before the advent of plough agriculture people lived in horticultural societies. Women main concern was the gathering of plant foods while the men hunted animals.
2. How did the agricultural revolution change the production of food and the gendered distribution of labor in society? The agriculture revolution change the production of food and the division of labor change due to fact that great emphasis was placed on animals and the roles they played in agriculture which was owned by men, hence the roles of men and women shifted. Men was responsible for the majority of farming, while the women contributed to harvesting, or taking care of domestic animals. The social status of women declined and their major role shifted to child bearing, food preparation, and textile and craftsman preparation.
3. What were the larger societal effects that occurred as a result of this revolution in agricultural production? Material possession and the accumulation of domestic animals, which was pass on to one generation to the next, became more valuable and amounted to wealth. As a result, neighboring tribes raided each other to steal cattle, which caused warfare. The wealthy became more powerful by lending farm labor or support in battle against other groups to poorer families. In such a society, people themselves became objects of value and exchange like animals and material possessions.
4. What evidence did the author use to come to her conclusions? In your opinion, is it appropriate to draw these conclusions from this type of evidence? Would other forms of evidence be better?
By looking at the artifacts that were found in Mesopotamia and the similarities base on social status that women in the modern world shared with the women back then which is an appropriate manner to come to these conclusions.
History 131
Assignment: Women in prehistory
01.29.2015
1. Describe societies before the advent of plough [plow] agriculture?
Before the advent of plough agriculture people lived in horticultural societies. Women main concern was the gathering of plant foods while the men hunted animals.
2. How did the agricultural revolution change the production of food and the gendered distribution of labor in society? The agriculture revolution change the production of food and the division of labor change due to fact that great emphasis was placed on animals and the roles they played in agriculture which was owned by men, hence the roles of men and women shifted. Men was responsible for the majority of farming, while the women contributed to harvesting, or taking care of domestic animals. The social status of women declined and their major role shifted to child bearing, food preparation, and textile and craftsman preparation.
3. What were the larger societal effects that occurred as a result of this revolution in agricultural production? Material possession and the accumulation of domestic animals, which was pass on to one generation to the next, became more valuable and amounted to wealth. As a result, neighboring tribes raided each other to steal cattle, which caused warfare. The wealthy became more powerful by lending farm labor or support in battle against other groups to poorer families. In such a society, people themselves became objects of value and exchange like animals and material possessions.
4. What evidence did the author use to come to her conclusions? In your opinion, is it appropriate to draw these conclusions from this type of evidence? Would other forms of evidence be better?
By looking at the artifacts that were found in Mesopotamia and the similarities base on social status that women in the modern world shared with the women back then which is an appropriate manner to come to these conclusions.