Division of Laborby L. Calvert @ CE Utt Middle School

Essential Question:

What is division of labor

and how is it necessary for civilization?

1. How did the division of labor begin in Mesopotamia?

• Once Mesopotamia produced enough food….not everyone had to be a farmer• Other types of occupations arose• (This is called division of labor)

2. What types of jobs (other than farming) were created in Mesopotamia?

2. What types of jobs (other than farming) were created in Mesopotamia?

– potter– herdsman (raise and sell animals and animal products)– tent maker – medal worker – scribe – trader – weaver – house builder – priest – artisan– boatman

3. What is the definition of division of labor?

• An economic arrangement in which each worker specializes in a particular task or job.

• (Specialized workers)

4. Why do all civilizations have division of labor?

4. Why do all civilizations have division of labor/specialized jobs?

• Specialized labor is necessary for a civilization to exist

5. Name some specialized job categories in

America.

5. Name some specialized

job categories in America.

Top 1% wage earners in the United States by occupation

6. Today, what percent of U.S. workers are farmers?

6. Today, what percent of U.S. workers are farmers?

• less than 2% of the U.S. workers are farmers.

7. What do our farmers produce today?

7. USA Top 20 Farm Products(ranked in order of value with volume in metric tons)

• 1. Corn 256,900,000 • 2. Cattle meat 11,736,000 • 3. Cow's milk, 78,155,000 • 4. Chicken meat 15,006,000• 5. Soybeans 65,800,000 • 6. Pig meat 8,574,000 • 7. Wheat 63,590,000 • 8. Cotton lint 3,968,000 • 9. Hen eggs 5,141,000 • 10. Turkey meat 2,584,000

• 11. Tomatoes 12,275,000 • 12. Potatoes 20,820,000 • 13. Grapes 6,126,000 • 14. Oranges 10,473,000 • 15. Rice, paddy 9,034,000 • 16. Apples 4,242,000 • 17. Sorghum 10,446,000 • 18. Lettuce 4,490,000 • 19. Cottonseed 6,073,000• 20. Sugar beets 27,760,000

7. USA Top 20 Farm Products(ranked in order of value with volume in metric tons)

• 11. Tomatoes 12,275,000 • 12. Potatoes 20,820,000 • 13. Grapes 6,126,000 • 14. Oranges 10,473,000 • 15. Rice, paddy 9,034,000 • 16. Apples 4,242,000 • 17. Sorghum 10,446,000 • 18. Lettuce 4,490,000 • 19. Cottonseed 6,073,000• 20. Sugar beets 27,760,000

• Fast Facts About Agriculture• 2.2 million farms dot America’s rural landscape. About 97 percent of U.S. farms are operated

by families – individuals, family partnerships or family corporations.• Farm and ranch families comprise just 2 percent of the U.S. population.• More than 21 million American workers (15 percent of the total U.S. workforce) produce,

process and sell the nation’s food and fiber• Today’s farmers produce 262 percent more food with 2 percent fewer inputs (labor, seeds,

feed, fertilizer, etc.), compared with 1950.• In 2010, $115 billion worth of American agricultural products were exported around the

world. The United States sells more food and fiber to world markets than we import, creating a positive agricultural trade balance.

• One in three U.S. farm acres is planted for export.• 31 percent of U.S. gross farm income comes directly from exports.• About 23 percent of raw U.S. farm products are exported each year.• Farmers and ranchers receive only 16 cents out of every dollar spent on food at home and

away from home. The rest goes for costs beyond the farm gate: wages and materials for production, processing, marketing, transportation and distribution. In 1980, farmers and ranchers received 31 cents.

• U.S. farm programs typically cost each American just pennies per meal and account for less than one-half of 1 percent of the total U.S. budget.

• Americans enjoy a food supply that abundant, affordable overall and among the world’s safest, thanks in large part to the efficiency and productivity of America’s farm and ranch families.

So once Mesopotamia produced a surplus of food…

• People were able to concentrate on other things (than just feeding themselves)

• New technologies were developed• Artisans created useful domestic items• People acquired more things• Bartering and trade began• This led to division of labor, or specialized

labor

Summary: Division of labor is necessary for a civilization because…

• civ·i·li·za·tion, sivələˈzāSHən/• Noun• 1. the stage of human social development and

organization that is considered most advanced.• 2. the process by which a society or place reaches

an advanced stage of social development and organization

• synonyms: human development, advancement, progress, enlightenment, culture, refinement, sophistication