History of Agricultural History of Agricultural DevelopmentDevelopment

AGST 3000AGST 3000

Agriculture, Society and The Agriculture, Society and The Natural World…Lecture 2Natural World…Lecture 2

Hunter & GatherersHunter & Gatherers

99% of mankind’s 99% of mankind’s existence on Earth has existence on Earth has been as a HUNTER & been as a HUNTER & GATHERERGATHERER!!

History of AgricultureHistory of Agriculture

What is a hunter/gatherer?What is a hunter/gatherer?

Hunting/gathering behaviors exist Hunting/gathering behaviors exist back 2 million years to the dawn of back 2 million years to the dawn of man’s cultural evolution.man’s cultural evolution.

No word for “work” exists in various No word for “work” exists in various languages of hunters/gatherers.languages of hunters/gatherers.

Do hunting/gathering societies still Do hunting/gathering societies still exist today?exist today?

Does modern mankind exhibit Does modern mankind exhibit characteristics of hunter/gatherers??characteristics of hunter/gatherers??

Hesoid’s Ages of Man Hesoid’s Ages of Man (Greek poet, 8th-7th century B.C.)(Greek poet, 8th-7th century B.C.)

I.I. Golden age (prehistory) Golden age (prehistory)A. Age of the hunter-gathererA. Age of the hunter-gatherer

B. Eden-like pre-agriculturalB. Eden-like pre-agricultural

II. Silver Age (8,000 B.C.)II. Silver Age (8,000 B.C.)A. Concept of work bornA. Concept of work bornB. Symbolized by the “Yoke of Oxen”B. Symbolized by the “Yoke of Oxen”

III. Bronze Age (3,500 B.C.)III. Bronze Age (3,500 B.C.)A. Trade developedA. Trade developed

IV. Iron Age (1,500-600 B.C.)IV. Iron Age (1,500-600 B.C.)

Agriculture, Energy, and CivilizationAgriculture, Energy, and Civilization

Earth’s carrying capacity for hunter-gatherers Earth’s carrying capacity for hunter-gatherers estimated at 20-30 million. How many estimated at 20-30 million. How many people exist on Earth today?people exist on Earth today?

Agricultural and the first cultural revolutions Agricultural and the first cultural revolutions developed symbiotically.developed symbiotically.What relevance does this statement have What relevance does this statement have on society today??on society today??

Solar energy (harvested through Solar energy (harvested through photosynthesis) fueled the agricultural photosynthesis) fueled the agricultural revolution. Explain.revolution. Explain.

Fossil fuels drove the industrial revolution.Fossil fuels drove the industrial revolution.

Use of these basic energy sources Use of these basic energy sources stimulated cultural, social, and civil stimulated cultural, social, and civil development.development.

Mechanization/fossil-fuels increased Mechanization/fossil-fuels increased capacity to produce food while capacity to produce food while reducing reducing labor, but also labor, but also increased environmental degradation increased environmental degradation and social conflict.and social conflict.

Agrarian societies viewed children as Agrarian societies viewed children as economic assets (large families were economic assets (large families were necessary for survival).necessary for survival).

Agriculture, Energy, and Civilization…continuedAgriculture, Energy, and Civilization…continued

A Catch 22 developed:A Catch 22 developed:

A.A. More people require more foodMore people require more food

B.B. Requiring more intensive agricultureRequiring more intensive agriculture

C.C. Requiring more energy to produce foodRequiring more energy to produce food

D.D. Leading to more environmental degradation Leading to more environmental degradation (particularly soil erosion)(particularly soil erosion)

E.E. Leading to crop failureLeading to crop failure

F.F. Leading to starvationLeading to starvation

G.G. Leading to migration to new landsLeading to migration to new lands

H.H. Requiring more people to produce foodRequiring more people to produce food

Agriculture, Energy, and Civilization…continuedAgriculture, Energy, and Civilization…continued

Demographic transition –Demographic transition –rising population with shrinking rising population with shrinking

resources.resources.

What about today…Are resources What about today…Are resources shrinking? How will this affect shrinking? How will this affect society??society??Today? Tomorrow?Today? Tomorrow?

Agriculture, Energy, and Civilization…continuedAgriculture, Energy, and Civilization…continued

Transition from Transition from Hunting-Gathering to AgricultureHunting-Gathering to Agriculture

Human population growth rate increased slowly:Human population growth rate increased slowly:A.A. .0007-.0020 % /yr..0007-.0020 % /yr. Pleistocene agePleistocene ageB.B. .1 % /yr..1 % /yr. Neolithic Neolithic C.C. 1-2 % /yr.1-2 % /yr. Present dayPresent day

Low birth rate attributed to lifestyle of hunter-Low birth rate attributed to lifestyle of hunter-gatherer – not food scarcity. Were children an gatherer – not food scarcity. Were children an asset??asset??

Not ignorance of plant growth, but lack of need Not ignorance of plant growth, but lack of need to practice agriculture prevented earlier to practice agriculture prevented earlier development of agriculture.development of agriculture.

Wild seeds were abundant, inexhaustible, Wild seeds were abundant, inexhaustible, and could easily be harvestedand could easily be harvested

• In Turkey, a person could harvest 2.2 lbs. of In Turkey, a person could harvest 2.2 lbs. of wild wheat (einkorn, which contains 57% more wild wheat (einkorn, which contains 57% more protein than current domestic wheat) in an protein than current domestic wheat) in an hourhour

• In Mexico, an 11-day supply of “wild corn” In Mexico, an 11-day supply of “wild corn” (teosinte) could be gathered in 3.5 hours(teosinte) could be gathered in 3.5 hours

• In Wisconsin, Ojibwa Indians could fill their In Wisconsin, Ojibwa Indians could fill their canoes with wild rice in a few hours.canoes with wild rice in a few hours.

Transition from Transition from Hunting-Gathering to AgricultureHunting-Gathering to Agriculture

Man simultaneously developed Man simultaneously developed agriculture worldwide 10,000 agriculture worldwide 10,000 years ago, after the last Ice years ago, after the last Ice Age…suggests that climate Age…suggests that climate changes contributed to the changes contributed to the cultivation of plants.cultivation of plants.

Transition from Hunting-Gathering to AgricultureTransition from Hunting-Gathering to Agriculturecontinued…continued…

• Hunter Hunter gatherers gatherers settled in settled in small small communities communities in the Fertile in the Fertile Crescent, a Crescent, a narrow band narrow band of land of land arcing arcing across the across the Near East.Near East.

Also South Also South America, America, the the tropical tropical coast of coast of Ecuador…Ecuador…squashsquash

and China and China …rice …rice on the on the YangtzeYangtze

Also North America and Mesoamerica (Also North America and Mesoamerica (The Maya The Maya homeland, called Mesoamerica, spans five homeland, called Mesoamerica, spans five countries: countries: Mexico, , Guatemala, , Belize, , Honduras, and , and El Salvador..

New evidence suggests that people New evidence suggests that people cultivated rye over 13,000 years ago, while cultivated rye over 13,000 years ago, while continuing to hunt animals and gather wild continuing to hunt animals and gather wild plants in the Fertile Crescent.plants in the Fertile Crescent.

Evidence suggests that the transition from Evidence suggests that the transition from hunting/gathering to agricultural lifestyles hunting/gathering to agricultural lifestyles

is a long, slow development process.is a long, slow development process.

Hunter-gatherers turn to agriculture only as Hunter-gatherers turn to agriculture only as a last resort when population pressure a last resort when population pressure forces them to acquire more food on forces them to acquire more food on available space?available space?

Transition from Hunting-Gathering to AgricultureTransition from Hunting-Gathering to Agriculturecontinued…continued…

Origin of VegecultureOrigin of Vegeculture

I.I. What is Vegeculture?What is Vegeculture?

II.II. Agriculture in the form of vegeculture, Agriculture in the form of vegeculture, probably began in the tropics, most probably began in the tropics, most commonly in lowland areas. commonly in lowland areas.

III.III. Early fisherman probably practiced first Early fisherman probably practiced first agriculture.agriculture.

A. Using plant substances to stun fish A. Using plant substances to stun fish (rotenoids?)(rotenoids?)B. Fishing permitted a settled life.B. Fishing permitted a settled life.C. Settled life favored agricultureC. Settled life favored agriculture

IV.IV. Early vegetables could be cultivated using Early vegetables could be cultivated using “vegetative propagation”, not seeds. What’s “vegetative propagation”, not seeds. What’s the difference?the difference?

V.V. Early vegetables were rich in starch. Why Early vegetables were rich in starch. Why was this important? was this important?

A.A. Sweet potato and yamSweet potato and yamB.B. TaroTaro

VI.VI. Growing areas were incompletely Growing areas were incompletely cleared cleared and burned forests: “Swiddens” and burned forests: “Swiddens” (temporary agricultural plots cut from (temporary agricultural plots cut from primary and secondary forests)primary and secondary forests)

VII.VII. Early crops may not have always been grown Early crops may not have always been grown for food: fiber and ceremonial for food: fiber and ceremonial purposes.purposes.

Origin of Vegeculture continued…Origin of Vegeculture continued…

Seed Culture in the Seed Culture in the New World

I.I. Earliest seed culture practiced in Tehuacan Earliest seed culture practiced in Tehuacan Valley- Southern MexicoValley- Southern MexicoA. Corn, maize, = teosinteA. Corn, maize, = teosinteB.Semi-arid area surrounded by B.Semi-arid area surrounded by foothills and mountains with foothills and mountains with increasing level of precipitation, increasing level of precipitation, increased crop diversity.increased crop diversity.

II.II. Cultural evolution in the New World was Cultural evolution in the New World was retarded by about 4000 years compared to retarded by about 4000 years compared to the Old World? Why?the Old World? Why?

A. Corn required thousands of years to A. Corn required thousands of years to domesticate and show its amazing potential.domesticate and show its amazing potential.

III.III. Successful agriculture is the forerunner of Successful agriculture is the forerunner of economic development. Why?economic development. Why?

IV.IV. Maize-bean-squash complexMaize-bean-squash complexA. Corn-tall, first claim to moisture and A. Corn-tall, first claim to moisture and sunsunB. Bean vines – climbed up corn stalks, B. Bean vines – climbed up corn stalks,

N-fixing, legume-protein N-fixing, legume-protein containing.containing.C. Squash – on ground, minimized weed C. Squash – on ground, minimized weed

growth growth

V.V. What other crops did the New World What other crops did the New World provide to modern society today??provide to modern society today??

Seed Culture in the Seed Culture in the New WorldNew World continued…continued…

Seed Culture in the Seed Culture in the Old WorldOld World

I. Seed culture originated in drier subtropics I. Seed culture originated in drier subtropics of both hemispheres (8,000-10,000 of both hemispheres (8,000-10,000 years ago)years ago)

A. Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (Fertile A. Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (Fertile Crescent)Crescent)

B. Indus River – Northern India and B. Indus River – Northern India and PakistanPakistan

C. Huang Ho (Yellow River-Yangtze) – C. Huang Ho (Yellow River-Yangtze) – Northern Northern ChinaChina

II.II. Irrigation and long term food storage Irrigation and long term food storage were required – higher degree of social were required – higher degree of social organization required. Why?organization required. Why?*Division of labor*Division of labor

III.III. Major civilizations built in regions of Major civilizations built in regions of seed culture.seed culture.A. Food was potentially abundantA. Food was potentially abundantB. Great effort required to obtain foodB. Great effort required to obtain foodC. What characterizes a “major” C. What characterizes a “major” civilization??civilization??

Seed Culture in the Seed Culture in the Old WorldOld World continued… continued…

IV.IV. Cereal grains were early cropsCereal grains were early crops

A. Wet-dry season requirementsA. Wet-dry season requirementsB. Large seed (endosperm) to resist B. Large seed (endosperm) to resist

drought/support rapid growth drought/support rapid growth during brief wet periods.during brief wet periods.

V. Ancestral cereals were attractive weeds prior to V. Ancestral cereals were attractive weeds prior to domestication.domestication.

VI. Domesticated seed crops have shown a disability VI. Domesticated seed crops have shown a disability to compete with weeds.to compete with weeds.

Seed Culture in the Seed Culture in the Old WorldOld World continued… continued…

Ancestral Wheat and BarleyAncestral Wheat and Barley

VII.VII. Seed culture developed most rapidly in Seed culture developed most rapidly in ecologically diverse regions.ecologically diverse regions.

A. Earliest village farming community A. Earliest village farming community in in western Iran (wheat, barley, and western Iran (wheat, barley, and

domestic animals)domestic animals)

B. Provided a rich diversity of plant B. Provided a rich diversity of plant materialsmaterials

VIII.VIII. Cultivation of grains pre-dated Cultivation of grains pre-dated cultivation of fruits by several thousand cultivation of fruits by several thousand years. Why?years. Why?

A. More permanent settlement A. More permanent settlement required due to long term nature of fruit required due to long term nature of fruit crops.crops.

Seed Culture in the Seed Culture in the Old WorldOld World continued… continued…

IX. As seed cultures moved from highlands IX. As seed cultures moved from highlands to valleysto valleys

A.A. Irrigation developedIrrigation developedB.B. Tillage systems developedTillage systems developedC.C. Selection of varieties improvedSelection of varieties improved

Four species of beans - navy, kidney, Four species of beans - navy, kidney, lima, and lima, and peanuts. peanuts. Legumes share Legumes share what quality?what quality?

Seed Culture in the Seed Culture in the Old WorldOld World continued… continued…

In conclusion….In conclusion….

Mankind has a long history of hunting Mankind has a long history of hunting and gathering.and gathering.

Prehistoric societies evolved away Prehistoric societies evolved away from nomadic lifestyles from nomadic lifestyles approximately 10,000 years ago in approximately 10,000 years ago in many locations around the world.many locations around the world.

Agriculture contributes to the Agriculture contributes to the development of civilization.development of civilization.

Preparation for Next Week:Preparation for Next Week:

Read pages 12-20 “How it all began.”Read pages 12-20 “How it all began.” Journal 1 due next week. Please Journal 1 due next week. Please

properly cite your sources.properly cite your sources. Determination of groups and topics Determination of groups and topics

for Qualitative Interview.for Qualitative Interview. Ag Commodity “Story Boards” due Ag Commodity “Story Boards” due

March 10March 10thth. Papers due March 17. Papers due March 17thth..