Growth and Diffusion of Agriculture

Unit 3 Learning Targets

Lesson #3.1 - Growth and Diffusion of Agriculture (Amsco pgs. 282-286)

  • Impact of the Neolithic Revolution on Human Society

    • The transition from nomadic hunting and gathering to settled agricultural societies drastically transformed human lifestyle, social structures, and economic practices.

    • Established permanent settlements and enabled population growth.

    • Fostered the development of complex societies and institutions.

  • Major Agricultural Hearths

    • Southwest Asia

    • Geographic area often called the "Fertile Crescent."

    • Crops: Wheat, Barley, Lentils

    • East Asia

    • Dominant regions include present-day China and Japan.

    • Crops: Rice, Soybeans

    • Southeast Asia

    • Characterized by warm, wet climates.

    • Crops: Rice, Taro, Millet

    • Sub-Saharan Africa

    • Agricultural practices varied widely across regions.

    • Crops: Sorghum, Yams, Oil Palm

    • Mesoamerica

    • Regions including modern-day Mexico and parts of Central America.

    • Crops: Maize, Beans, Squash

  • Climatic Conditions in Agricultural Hearths

    • Analysis of climates that favor specific types of agriculture, such as temperature ranges, precipitation patterns, and seasonal variations.

  • Crops Originating in Major Agricultural Hearths

    • Identification of key crops which originated in these regions based on archaeological evidence and historical records.

  • Impact of Latitude on Crop Diffusion

    • Exploration of how latitude influences climate conditions, which in turn affects the types of crops grown and their spread across various regions.

  • SPEED Impacts of the Columbian Exchange

    • S: Spread of new crops and livestock between the Americas and the rest of the world.

    • P: Promotion of diverse agricultural practices and diets.

    • E: Economic exchange and trade benefits for various regions.

    • E: Environmental consequences, including the introduction of non-native species.

    • D: Demographic changes, notably population growth in certain regions due to improved food supply.

Vocabulary

  • Neolithic Revolution: The transition of human societies from hunting and gathering to agriculture and settlement.

  • Plant Domestication: The process of adapting wild plants for human use.

  • Animal Domestication: The practice of breeding and caring for animals for companionship, food, and work.

  • Latitude: The measurement of distance north or south of the Equator, affecting climate and agricultural practices.

  • Agricultural Hearth: A geographic region that is the origin of a particular agricultural practice or crop.

  • Columbian Exchange: The widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, and diseases between the Americas and the Old World.

  • Diffusion: The process by which a cultural item spreads from one society to another.

Lesson #3.2 - Subsistence Agricultural Production Regions (Amsco pgs. 271-276, 308-309)

  • Categorization of Agricultural Production:

    • Classifying agricultural production as either subsistence or commercial, and as intensive or extensive.

  • Characteristics of Subsistence Farming:

    • Economic Development: Typically linked to lower levels of economic development.

    • Farm Size: Generally smaller farms, focusing on self-sufficiency.

    • Agricultural Density: High density of farmers per unit area of land.

  • Intensive vs. Extensive Agricultural Production:

    • Intensive: High input and high yield per unit area (e.g., wet rice dominant).

    • Extensive: Low input and yield per unit area (e.g., pastoral nomadism).

  • Influences on Spatial Distribution:

    • Factors: Economic, environmental (climate, soil quality), and demographic aspects influencing where forms of subsistence agriculture are practiced.

  • Forms of Subsistence Agriculture:

    • Wet Rice Dominant: Regions where rice is the primary crop.

    • Wet Rice Not Dominant: Areas focusing on other crops.

    • Pastoral Nomadism: Herding and breeding livestock as primary means of subsistence.

    • Shifting Cultivation: Farming strategy involving the rotation of fields to maintain soil fertility.

  • Conflicts from Subsistence Agriculture:

    • Examination of tensions arising from land use, resource competition, and differing farming practices.

  • Production Processes in Subsistence Agriculture:

    • Discussion of the various methods used in subsistence farming, including crop rotation, and the cultural significance of these practices.

Vocabulary

  • Subsistence Farming: Agriculture that focuses on growing enough food to feed oneself and family.

  • Commercial Farming: Large-scale production of crops and livestock for sale in markets.

  • Agricultural Density: The ratio of the number of farmers to the area of arable land.

  • Intensive Agricultural Production: Farming that requires a large amount of labor and inputs to maximize yields.

  • Extensive Agricultural Production: Farming that requires less labor and capital to produce lower yields over larger areas.

  • Inputs: The resources used in agricultural production, including labor, capital, and equipment.

  • Yield: The amount of crop produced per unit of land.

  • Monocropping: Cultivating a single crop over a wide area.

  • Intertillage: Practice of growing two or more crops on the same land during a single season.

  • Double Cropping: Planting and harvesting two crops on the same land within one year.

  • Wet Rice Dominant: Regions heavily reliant on wet rice cultivation.

  • Wet Rice Not Dominant: Regions that rely on other types of crops.

  • Pastoral Nomadism: Lifestyle based on herding and moving livestock according to seasonal availability.

  • Transhumance: Seasonal movement of livestock between fixed summer and winter pastures.

  • Shifting Cultivation: Agricultural method where land is cultivated for a few years and then abandoned.

Lesson #3.3 - 2nd and 3rd Agricultural Revolutions (Amsco pgs. 292-301)

  • Categorization of Agricultural Production:

    • Similar to previous lessons, agricultural production is categorized as subsistence/commercial and intensive/extensive.

  • Characteristics of Commercial Farming:

    • Economic Development: Typically higher levels of economic development associated with commercial agriculture.

    • Farm Size: Larger farms intended for market production.

    • Agricultural Density: Lower density of farmers per unit area compared to subsistence farming.

  • Intensive vs. Extensive Agricultural Production Characteristics:

    • Intensive farming focused on maximizing productivity per acre using techniques like high-yield hybrid seeds.

    • Extensive farming relies on larger land areas with lower labor inputs, such as ranching.

  • Influences on Spatial Distribution of Commercial Agriculture:

    • Factors influencing production include market access, economic conditions, and environmental factors affecting crops and livestock.

  • Production Processes in Commercial Agriculture:

    • The methods and technologies used in various forms of commercial agriculture, emphasizing efficiency and profitability.

Vocabulary

  • Commercial Agriculture: The production of crops for sale rather than for personal consumption.

  • Capital: Financial assets or resources required for farming operations.

  • Market Gardening (Commercial Gardening): The small-scale production of fruits, vegetables, and flowers sold directly to consumers or markets.

  • Plantation Agriculture: A large commercial farm that specializes in one or two crops, usually found in tropical and subtropical climates.

  • Mixed Crop/Livestock: Farming system that integrates crops and livestock, ensuring both food and income.

  • Mediterranean Agriculture: Farming system characterized by specialized crops cultivated for human consumption, adapted to dry summers.

  • Livestock Ranching: A form of agriculture focused on the breeding and raising of animals.

  • Grain Farming: Large-scale production of crops like wheat and corn for both domestic and export markets.

  • Dairy Farming: Specialized type of agriculture focused on the production of milk and related products.

Lesson #3.4 - Commercial Agricultural Production Regions (Amsco pgs. 271-278)

  • Categorization of Agricultural Production:

    • Similar framework as previous lessons focused on subsistence and commercial production types.

  • Characteristics of Commercial Farming:

    • Economic Development: Commercial farming is associated with regions of developed economies.

    • Farm Size: Generally larger operations designed to produce significant quantities of products.

    • Agricultural Density: Typically lower density of farms relative to land area compared with subsistence farming.

  • Intensive vs. Extensive Production Characteristics:

    • Intensive farming methods involve high levels of labor input aimed at yielding maximum crops.

    • Extensive farming relies on larger land holdings with less intensive labor and lower yields.

  • Spatial Distribution Influences:

    • Economic (market access, labor availability), environmental (climate, soil), and demographic factors driving where types of commercial farms are located.

  • Production Processes in Commercial Agriculture:

    • Detailed processes for producing commercial crops and livestock, integrating novel farming technologies and practices.

Vocabulary

  • Commercial Agriculture: Agriculture produced for sale and profit.

  • Capital: Resources necessary for the production processes within agriculture.

  • Market Gardening (Commercial Gardening): The growing of fruits and vegetables primarily for sale.

  • Plantation Agriculture: Agriculture based on large-scale farms that specialize in one or two crops.

  • Mixed Crop/Livestock: Combined crop and animal farming operations.

  • Mediterranean Agriculture: Cropping systems in temperate regions with wet winters and dry summers.

  • Livestock Ranching: Raising animals for food, fiber, and other products over large areas.

  • Grain Farming: Focused on the cultivation of grains for food production.

  • Dairy Farming: Specialized farming for dairy product production.

Lesson #3.5 - Rural Land Use (Amsco pgs. 279-281)

  • Forms of Rural Land Division:

    • Examination of how rural land is divided based on different historical and practical methods.

  • Types of Land Division Systems:

    • Metes and Bounds: A system defining land using physical boundaries and adjacent landmarks.

    • Township and Range: A rectangular survey system based on a grid format, organized by squares.

    • French Long Lot: A land division method where land parcels are elongated and oriented towards rivers or roads.

  • Purpose of Different Land Division Systems:

    • Consideration of how land ownership and usage patterns affect agricultural practices and management.

  • Advantages and Disadvantages of Land Division Systems:

    • Comparison of efficiencies, access to resources, and conflict potential among different land division methods.

Vocabulary

  • Metes and Bounds: A traditional method of land measurement and description based on natural landmarks.

  • Township and Range: A systematic grid-based division of land used primarily in the U.S.

  • French Long Lot: A type of land division prominent along waterways, focusing on frontage access.