Broad Spectrum Revolution

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The broad spectrum revolution was the way people adapted to the end of an ice age in the post-glacial environment.

The broad spectrum revolution followed the around 15,000 BP in the Middle East and 12,000 BP in Europe during a wide time period, or broader spectrum. During this time, many plants and animals were hunted, gathered, collected, caught, and fished.

[edit] Characteristics of the broad spectrum revolution

When the seas began to rise:

1. Conditions became more inviting to marine life offshore in shallow, warm waters.
2. Quantity and variety of marine life increased drastically as did the number of edible species.
3. Because the rivers' power weakened with rising waters, the currents flowing into the ocean were slow enough to allow salmon and other fish ascend upstream to spawn.
4. Birds found refuge next to riverbeds in marsh grasses and then proceeded to migrate across Europe in the wintertime.

In the Middle East, the broad spectrum revolution led to an increase in the production of food. The growth and reproduction of certain plants and animals became vastly popular. Because large animals became quite scarce, people had to find new resources of food and tools elsewhere. Interests focused on smaller game like fish, rabbits, and shellfish because the reproduction rate on small animals is much greater than that of large animals.

[edit] Example

The Japanese site Nittano (inlet near Tokyo) was occupied several times between 6000 and 5000 BP. The Jomon culture occupied Nittano at over 30,000 sites known in Japan. People hunted deer, pigs, bears, antelope, fish, shellfish, and gathered plants. Sites have yielded over 300 sample remains of shellfish and 180 sample remains of plants.

The people in the Middle East created a broad spectrum of resources by growing and reproducing plants and animals by changing their biological characteristics. These people changed from hunters to farmers and herders.