Revolutions and Evolutions in Archaeology

Humankind has had a revolutionary past -- or so archaeology would lead us to believe. The earliest evidence for language, ritual, and the arts -- dating back to the extinction of the Neanderthals -- is known as the "Human Revolution". The time when hunter-gatherers became farmers? The "Neolithic Revolution". And when they started living in cities? The "Urban Revolution". This course will explore the historical reasons for these revolutionary labels, and consider instead these "revolutions" as gradual processes (or evolutions). Enrollment limited to 50.