Agrarian Complexity and Feedback Loops

Review key vocabulary related to agrarian societies, their development, and the processes of intensification and extensification.

Agrarian Era

A period of human history characterized by the development of agriculture and domestication of plants and animals.

Intensification

The process of increasing the productivity of land through agricultural practices, such as irrigation and the use of labor to enhance yields.

Extensification

The process of expanding agricultural practices into new areas, typically less optimal land, to increase resource production.

Secondary Products Revolution

A shift where domesticated animals are used not just for meat but for other products like milk, wool, and labor.

Irrigation

The artificial application of water to soil to assist in growing crops.

Fire Stick Farming

A technique used by Paleolithic hunters and gatherers to manipulate the landscape through controlled burning to enhance plant growth.

Swidden Agriculture

A form of shifting cultivation involving the clearing of land by burning to create fertile soil for planting.

Positive Feedback Loop

A cyclical process where population growth leads to increased resource use, which in turn fosters further population growth.

Collective Learning

The ability of groups to share, store, and build upon knowledge over time, leading to innovations and advancements.

Horticulture

A form of agriculture that focuses on the cultivation of fruits, vegetables, and flowers, typically using simple tools.

Pastoralism

A subsistence strategy centered around the herding and breeding of livestock for various resources.

Nutritional Inputs

Resources such as food and dietary supplements that contribute to human health and population growth.

Agriculture vs. Horticulture

Agriculture generally refers to large-scale farming practices using plows and domesticated animals, while horticulture typically refers to small-scale farming using manual tools.

Transitional Periods

Times of significant change, such as the shift from foraging societies to agrarian societies.