Gordon Childe Neolithic Revolution Model Analysis

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Analysis of Gordon Childe Neolithic Revolution Model

The paper summarizes Childe’s materialistic model he used to describe the Neolithic

Revolution. It also discusses how has subsequent archaeological research has challenged its

underlying materialism. The paper demonstrates that the subsequent archaeological research

identified many gaps in Childe’s model and hence challenged its underlying materialism

Neolithic Revolution is a term coined by Gordon Childe to describe the transformation of

the way of living from a Paleolithic (predatory) way of life to a Neolithic (producer) way of life.

It occurred when the human being started domesticating animals. Therefore, it is sometimes

called the Agricultural Revolution. Through the Neolithic model, Childe breaks the predominant

historicist scheme until then and thus bring prehistoric archaeology to more solid methodological

and theoretical bases.

Childe's archaeological fame comes from his fascination with significant issues such as

the origin of agriculture, the rise of cities and civilization (Childe 53). He named these processes

"Neolithic Revolution" and "Urban Revolution", respectively. He believes that in three regions,

namely Mesopotamia, the Nile Basin and the Indus Basin, surplus wealth is growing faster than

the population. In the cities here, population growth has led to the emergence of a class-based

political system, and the status of the nobility is strengthened by their control of surplus wealth

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and the existing agricultural irrigation systems, which themselves enable agriculture to Support

the growing urban population. Through land cultivation, people of the Neolithic era managed for

the first time in history to adapt their natural habitat to their own needs. As noted, in response to

the needs of social changes during the transition from primitive hunting to farming (Ingold 62).

There was also the replacement of zoomorphic gods by anthropomorphic gods with different

degrees of removal of old cults by new ones is performed

Childe also developed and popularized the concept of the culture of archaeology,

defining it as a group of artefacts within a specific time and place, which seems to be an

archaeological proof of the existence of a unique national or ethnic group. Although this concept

has existed in Europe for more than 20 years, Childe systematically defined and used it. He

believes that the cultural composition of different times and regions is diverse because of contact

with other cultures, that is, proliferation or people's migration to the new areas. Childe's steadfast

attitude towards this cultural perspective is reflected in his insistence that social change in

prehistoric Europe was mainly due to population growth. In his view, the source of the spread

came from the Eastern Mediterranean civilization, which later spread to Europe through the

Danube region. But over time, his belief that population growth is the driving force for cultural

change has been further refined, and he has increasingly recognized the importance of economic

forces within societies. This view was made after his first visit to the Soviet Union in 1935,

which made him a more determined Marxist.

However, Childe’s materialistic model was later challenged by subsequent archaeological

research. For example, by citing the work of Jacques Cauvin Verhoeven (75) showed that there

was no clear cut between the Neolithic Revolution and the Paleolithic era. Verhoeven termed the

materialistic model of Childe as extreme. However, he acknowledges cultural change. Similarly,

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Surname 1 Student’s Name Professor’s Name Course Name Date Analysis of Gordon Childe Neolithic Revolution Model The paper summarizes Childe’s materialistic model he used to describe the Neolithic Revolution. It also discusses how has subsequent archaeological research has challenged its underlying materialism. The paper demonstrates that the subsequent archaeological research identified many gaps in Childe’s model and hence challenged its underlying materialism Neolithic Revolution is a term coined by Gordon Childe to describe the transformation of the way of living from a Paleolithic (predatory) way of life to a Neolithic (producer) way of life. It occurred when the human being started domesticating animals. Therefore, it is sometimes called the Agricultural Revolution. Through the Neolithic model, Childe breaks the predominant historicist scheme until then and thus bring prehistoric archaeology to more solid methodological and theoretical bases. Childe's archaeological fame comes from his fascination with significant issues such as the origin of agriculture, the rise of cities and civilization (Childe 53). He named these processes "Neolithic Revolution" and "Urban Revolut ...
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