Chapter 5 Changes in Agricultural Technology

Agriculture

The deliberate modification of the Earth’s surface through cultivation of domesticated plants or rearing of domesticated animals to obtain sustenance or economic gain.

Domestication

The long-term process through which humans selectively breed, protect, and care for plants and animals taken from wild populations to create genetically distinct species.

Columbian Exchange

The interaction and widespread relocation diffusion of plants, animals, and diseases between the Americas and the rest of the world following European colonization.

First Agricultural Revolution

Occurred around 12,000 years ago, marked by the transition from hunter-gatherer societies to sedentary farming in the fertile crescent.

Transhumance

The seasonal migration of livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures.

Hearths of Domestication

Major geographical areas where domestication of plants and animals first occurred, including Southwest Asia, Indus River Valley, West Africa, and Central America.

Commercial Agriculture

Farming that is primarily aimed at producing food for sale in the market rather than for personal consumption.

Subsistence Agriculture

Farming primarily to feed one's family with little to none left over for sale.

Intensive Agriculture

Farming that requires a high level of labor and monetary investment to produce high yields.

Extensive Agriculture

Farming that requires limited labor and less investment to manage more significant areas.

Bid Rent Theory

A theory that explains how land prices and demand for land vary with distance from the central business district (CBD).

Green Revolution

A period in the 1940s-1950s characterized by increased agricultural production worldwide due to new technology, including high-yield varieties and chemical fertilizers.

Food Deserts and Food Oasis

Food deserts are urban areas with limited access to affordable healthy food, while food oases are areas with sufficient affordable healthy food.

GMO (Genetically Modified Organism)

An organism whose genetic material has been altered using genetic engineering techniques.

Aquaculture

The cultivation and harvesting of seafood, shellfish, and seaweed under controlled conditions.

Fair Trade Products

Products that ensure equitable wages and working conditions for small-scale farmers and workers in developing countries.

Value Added Specialty Crops

Crops that have been processed or modified in some way, allowing smaller farms to compete with larger operations.

Pasoral Nomadism

A form of agriculture based on the herding of animals, with herders frequently moving to find fresh pastures.

Linear Settlements

Settlements arranged in a line, typically along roads or rivers.

Clustered Settlements

Tightly bunched farms or communities usually found in rural areas.

Dispersed Settlements

Isolated and sparsely populated farm areas, typically featuring a few widely spaced farms.

Second Agricultural Revolution

A movement in the 1800s that saw increased agricultural production due to new technology and methods, leading to better diets and rural-to-urban migration.