Brown Rice thesis

Oryza glaberrima

African rice species domesticated around 1500 BCE in the inland delta of the Niger River.

Oryza sativa

Asian rice that was introduced to Africa through trade and colonization.

Upper Guinea

Region in Africa known for its advanced rice production, involving communities like the Mandinka, Brame, Balanta, and Bijago.

Black Rice thesis

The theory suggesting that Upper Guineans transferred their rice-growing skills to regions in the Americas.

Geographical perspective

An analytical approach focusing on culture, technology, and environment.

Counter thesis (Eltis et al.)

Claims that Africans transported to the Americas lacked rice-growing skills as they were not from Upper Guinea.

Subaltern role

Position of marginalized groups without dominant influence or power in a given context.

Hybrid system

In the context of rice farming, a mix of African, European, and Indigenous practices rather than a direct transfer of methods.

Hawthorne's Brown Rice thesis

Argues that Asian rice was more commonly cultivated in the Americas and that African agricultural expertise shaped practices.

Irrigation

A critical agricultural technique utilized in rice cultivation for managing water supply.

Cultural regions

Areas characterized by specific cultural practices, including rice production in Africa prior to the 18th century.

Technological sophistication

Advanced methods in agriculture that involve skilled labor and knowledge.

Maranahao

Region in Brazil where rice cultivation was influenced by methods from Upper Guinea.

Enslaved Africans contribution

The adaptation and integration of African techniques into new conditions in the Americas.

Atlantic economy

The economic system that developed around the transatlantic trade, impacting labor and agricultural practices.

Knowledge transfer

The sharing or passing of expertise and skills between cultures, crucial in the development of rice farming.