Origins of Agriculture
Origin of Agriculture
Humans of the past were Hunters and Gatherers for more than 200,000 years. However, about 15,000 years ago, we started herding (animal domestication). About 10,000 years ago, we started farming (plant domestication).
1 Hectare (100m X 100m) can feed 10-100x more people if it is farmed, rather than if people are hunter-gatherers.
Agriculture started in subtropical/tropical climates, middle elevation (1,000-2,000m). Warm, wet growing seasons are followed by a dry spell. Each group that started farming had a signature indigenous crop for a staple supply.
Major Centers for Crop Domestication
The emergence of principal crops is associated with major civilizations. Usually, the 1st crops to be domesticated were cereal (grass) or something starchy (EX: potatoes, or bananas) and then a legume (EX: common bean, adzuki bean, soybean, groundnut, or pigeon pea)
Near East (Fertile Cresent)
The present-day Iran, Turkey, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, and Israel. The main rivers are the Tigris, Euphrates, and Nile.
The main crop cultivated in the Fertile Cresent was Barley (about 10,000 years ago), followed by Wheat and Chickpeas.
Far East (Yangtze and Yellow river basins)
The main crop cultivated in the Far East was Rice (about 11,500 years ago). Aus rice in Central India and Bangladesh. Indica rice in the Brahmaputra River Valley and Indochina. Japonica rice in the Yangtze River Valley and Southern China.
Meso-America (Central America) (New World)
Meso-America started with Squash (8-10k years ago), then corn (aka maize) (5-6k years ago).
Other OGs
- Papua-New Guinea: cultivated Bananas and Taru about 7,000 years ago
- Africa: cultivated Sorghum and Millet (Cereals that were more drought tolerant).
- South America: Cultivated the Potato.
Columbus Exchange
The Columbus exchange is one of the most important events concerning agriculture, ecology, and culture. The voyage of 1492 began the large-scale contact between the Old and New Worlds. Old-world crops were brought to the Americas. New World crops were taken back to Europe and spread to the Far East.
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