Unit 5

Neolithic Revolution

Transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture, occurring around 10,000 years ago.

Second Agricultural Revolution

Improvements in farming methods that happened during the Industrial Revolution in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Green Revolution

Introduction of high-yield crops, fertilizers, and mechanization in agriculture in the 20th century.

Agricultural Hearths

Geographical areas where agriculture first developed, such as the Fertile Crescent and Mesoamerica.

Columbian Exchange

Transfer of plants, animals, and diseases between the Old World and New World.

Subsistence Agriculture

Farming for local consumption, encompassing methods like shifting cultivation and pastoral nomadism.

Commercial Agriculture

Farming focused on profit, often involving large-scale operations such as plantation agriculture.

Intensive Agriculture

Farming that requires high labor/input per unit of land, showcased by practices like rice farming.

Extensive Agriculture

Farming that requires low labor/input per unit of land, indicated by ranching and shifting cultivation.

Plantation Agriculture

Large-scale monocropping of cash crops in tropical regions, such as sugar and coffee.

Shifting Cultivation

Agricultural method involving clearing forests for temporary farming, common in tropical rainforests.

Pastoral Nomadism

Herding animals as a primary means of subsistence, typical in arid regions.

Mechanization

Use of machines in farming to enhance productivity, such as tractors and combines.

Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)

Crops with altered DNA designed to increase yield and enhance disease resistance.

Irrigation

Artificial application of water to land to assist agricultural processes.

Sustainable Agriculture

Farming practices that aim to preserve environmental quality, including organic farming.

Von Thünen Model

Model explaining the spatial distribution of agricultural activities based on transportation costs and land rent.

Boserup Hypothesis

Theory proposing that population growth leads to increased agricultural intensification, opposing Malthusian theory.

Deforestation

Clearing of forests to make way for agricultural land, resulting in biodiversity loss and climate change.

Desertification

Land degradation occurring in arid areas due to prolonged overuse of land.

Soil Degradation

Loss of soil fertility caused by factors such as overgrazing, overfarming, and erosion.

Food Deserts

Areas with limited access to affordable and nutritious food, both urban and rural.

Agribusiness

Large-scale, industrialized farming operations often controlled by corporations.

Agricultural Supply Chains

The process encompassing food production from farm to table.

Food Security

The availability and accessibility of food necessary for a population's well-being.

Fair Trade

Movement aimed at ensuring fair wages and sustainable farming practices for producers.

Globalization of Agriculture

The increasing interconnectedness of food production and distribution on a global scale.

Cash Crop

Crops produced for commercial value rather than for use by the grower.

Aquaculture

The cultivation of aquatic organisms, such as fish or shellfish, for food.

Crop Rotation

The practice of alternating the cultivation of different crops on the same land to enhance soil health.

Monoculture

The agricultural practice of growing a single crop species over a wide area.