Paleolithic Culture, Drawings in Chauvet Cave Located in the Ardeche, Invention of the Potter's Wheel - Term Paper Example

Chauvet Cave is situated next to the famous Pont d’Arc above the old river bed in which the Ardèche flowed before the archway and contained artworks in its wall panels that were not only beautiful, complex, and sophisticated but has also sparked a controversy with a potential of ending the stylistic method of dating.

The painting inside the Chauvet cave consists of the mural after mural of bold lions, leaping horses, pensive owls, and charging rhinoceroses that together make up a veritable Louvre of Paleolithic art.   There are other images of animals such as the ibex, mammoth, and bears that were rendered as if it was just created yesterday, but in fact, thousands if not a million years ago.

The Rise of Civilization

The rise of civilization was the phase in human development where man has begun to discover techniques to improve his lot.  During this stage, he made technological advances in inventing the potter’s wheel, bronze tools, and other implements to improve his productivity, particularly in agriculture.  This resulted in the relative abundance of food where man started to grow his crops instead of wandering around to look for food. 

Recently, a similar discovery had made that had a similar effect of enhancing productivity particularly in enhancing agricultural productivity.  This was the invention of the Genetically Modified Organism (GMO) technology that multiplied the yield of crops by altering the genetic makeup of plants to become bigger, more productive, grow faster, and more resistive to pests.  Although this invention had controversy, it cannot be denied that it multiplied agricultural output and made food relatively cheaper due to its relative abundance. 

The Domestication of Plants and Animals

After the stage of the invention, the man realized that it is better to grow his own food and domesticate his own animals than to wander around to look for food.  In a way, he settled and began to form communities that eventually evolved into society.  Relative sufficiency in food was achieved due to the efficiency in production which enabled man to look for other endeavors other than worrying about food.

This can be likened today to the factorization of food today where food can now be produced in large quantities at lesser cost and time.  The fast-food chains pioneered by McDonald's revolutionized commercial food preparation where it made the production very efficient that resulting in selling the food cheaper and can be delivered in record time.