Origins of Agriculture East Asian

What are the two main processes involved in domestication (genetic and environmental engineering)? Explain these processes.

Genetic engineering: Selective breeding of plants and animals with desirable traits

Environmental engineering: Modifcation of environments to aid with agirculture and support domesticated animals.

How did health and workload change with the introduction of agriculture?

Health decreased: More exposure to diseases and parsites, dental issues due to poor diets (high in carbs), and less dietary diversity.
Workload increased: Long working hours (compared to foragers), more time processing food

What is reproductive ecology?

The study of human reproductive strategies and decision making impacted by human health, labor, diet, and the environment.

How did human reproductive ecology change?

Due to agriculture, fertitlity rates increases as higher carb intake supported fertility, a more sedentary lifestyle allowed for less energy usage, and agricultural labor increased the need for children as labor/

What was the Neolithic Demographic Shift? Why did it happen? 

The Neolithic Demographic Shift was the increase in human population due to the emergence and introduction of agriculture - which allowed for higher fertility rates, increase in food production, and the need for child labor.

Was agriculture a technological advancement that improved the lives of hunter-gatherers?

Advantages:

• more predictable

• increased productivity on land with labor investment

Disadvantages:

• deterimental to health

• exhuastive

• less dietary diversity

What were the advantages and disadvantages of agriculture?

• Advantages:

  • Allowed population growth.

  • Enabled complex societies and technological advancements.

  • Led to surplus food storage and trade.

• Disadvantages:

  • Declining health due to a restricted diet.

  • Increased labor and social stratification.

  • Conflicts over land and resources.

What crops and animals were domesticated the east Asia?

Crops: Rice, millet, soybeans, mungbeans, tea, citrus trees, melons, peaches

Animals: Pigs, water buffalo, ducks, silkworms

Where did agriculture first develop in east Asia?

• Yangtze River (Rice at Pengtoushan Village)

• Yellow River (Millet)

Where were taro and sugarcane domesticated?

Taro - New Guinea (Kuk Swamp 5,500 BC)

Sugarcane - Transatlantic Slave Trade