HISTORY OF AGRICULTURE: FROM ITS ORIGIN TO THE PRESENT - HISTORY - 2024

The history of agriculture refers to the different modifications and advances that the cultivation of the land has undergone over the centuries. It is important to note that agriculture is known as the set of technical and economic activities related to soil treatment, which aim to produce food for human consumption.

Agriculture is considered one of the most important discoveries in the history of man, since it not only changed the way we ate, but also our way of living. In addition, agriculture modified ecosystems and contributed to the formation processes of different civilizations.

Painting by Bruegel the Elder. Via wikimedia commons.

In fact, it is affirmed that agriculture was the cause of the “civilizing processes” that later led to the formation of social classes and the distribution of labor. Without agriculture, it is very likely that the human species would have become extinct or that only a few hundred people would have survived.

As scientific methods advance, it is easier to learn about the origins of agriculture. However, it is still an incomplete story that must be interpreted by researchers.

In its beginnings, agriculture did not develop with domesticated plants and animals; at the beginning, the cultivation of the land consisted of planting and caring for wild vegetation and the partial reclusion of relatively tame animals.

Over time, man perfected this activity in such a way that today there are large industries and machines in charge of carrying out agricultural processes.

History of agriculture

- Possible origins

There are many hypotheses to explain the beginnings of agriculture. One of the most widely used theories is that of localized climate change, which establishes that, after the last ice age, the Earth was subjected to long periods of drought (11,000 BC). This caused annual plants to leave a large number of tubers and seeds in the soil.

In this way, there was an abundance of legumes and grains, which were easy to store and allowed collecting communities to build villages to settle for longer periods.

The founding crops

The founder crops were the first eight species of plants that could be domesticated by human societies. This happened during the Holocene, specifically in the Fertile Crescent (a region that encompassed the ancient lands of Mesopotamia, Persia, and the Mediterranean Levant).

These crops were made up of three cereals: farro, barley and spelled wheat; four legumes: lentils, peas, chickpeas and beans; and a fiber: flax or linseed. Later, in 9400 a. C., managed to domesticate the parthenocarpic fig tree.

- The first crops of the first civilizations

In 7000 a. Agricultural techniques came to the fertile lands of Mesopotamia, where the Sumerian civilization perfected the system and began to produce crops on a larger scale.

Instead, agriculture was established on the Nile River in 8000 BC. C, simultaneously with the first crops in China, whose civilization replaced wheat with rice.

In American civilizations, corn was domesticated from 10,000 BC. Later, they grew other foods such as potatoes, tomatoes, pepper and squash.

On the other hand, in Greece pistachios, almonds, lentils and Vicia were planted from 11000 BC. Then, in 7000 BC, wild oats and barley were harvested in large quantities and animals such as pigs, goats, and sheep were domesticated.

Sumerian civilization

The Sumerians managed to settle after 8000 BC. C. and they fed mainly on wheat and barley. Mesopotamian lands had low rainfall, so these farmers depended on the waters of the Euphrates and the Tigris.

Because of this, the Sumerians built irrigation canals, which used river water to produce cereals that fed entire cities. It is considered that the first plows arose from 3000 BC. C., since from this time some pictograms date where this activity is represented.

The Sumerians also produced fruits such as grapes, dates, melons, apples, and figs. However, the consumption of animal protein such as sheep, cows, goats and birds remained limited to the nobility.

Egyptian civilization

Plow in ancient Egypt. Sennedjem Burial Chamber painting, 1200 BC

One of the reasons why Egyptian civilization advanced notably in agriculture and in the economy is due to the Nile River, which has fairly stable seasonal floods. Thanks to the reliability of the waters of the Nile and the fertile soil of the area, the Egyptians built an empire whose foundations were founded on considerable agricultural wealth.

This culture was the first to practice large-scale agricultural activities, developing staple crops such as barley and wheat, along with decorative and cultural products such as papyrus and linen.

Other civilizations

On the other hand, in the Indus Valley, barley, wheat and jujube were cultivated from 9000 BC. Later, this culture achieved an effective domestication of animals, consisting mainly of goats and sheep.

In Ancient Greece, mainly wheat and barley were grown. Beans, olives, and broad beans were also consumed, along with various dairy products that were extracted from goats and sheep. On the other hand, meat was consumed on limited occasions and consisted of beef, lamb and pork.

Likewise, agriculture in the Roman Empire was influenced by the techniques of the Sumerians. During this period, many of the crops were used for trade with other nations. In addition, the Romans established a system of farms with the aim of optimizing agricultural activity.

In America, the main agricultural product was teosinte, an ancestor of today's corn. They also fed on other crops such as cacao, squash, and beans.

In the Andean region (located in South America) coca, tomato, pineapple, tacaco and peanuts were domesticated. Regarding livestock, various animals typical of the region were used, such as alpacas, guinea pigs and llamas.

- The Middle Ages

Arab agriculture

As cultivation techniques advanced, the number of inhabitants on Earth also increased. In the 7th century, the Arab world experienced what is known as the Arab Agricultural Revolution, which consisted of increased production as a result of the creation of trade routes.

Thanks to trade routes and urban expansion in this region, crops such as spinach, chard and aubergine were introduced into Europe. The use of spices such as coriander, nutmeg and cumin has also become known in the West.

One of the artifacts most used by the Arabs was the Ferris wheel, an object that made it possible to extract water to irrigate crops. This instrument also reached Europe through the Iberian Peninsula.

European agriculture

In the West, monasteries became important places where information on forestry and agriculture was collected. In 900 d. C., iron smelting was developed, which optimized agricultural production in European territories.

In addition, watermills were perfected and windmills were implemented, which were used to grind flour and process wool. As for crops, they were mainly made up of wheat, barley, oats, rye, beans and peas.

With the discovery of America, a global exchange of animals and crops was established; America allowed Europeans to learn about foods such as corn, sweet potatoes, and cassava, while the New World was able to learn about rice, wheat, and turnip.

- Modern Agriculture: British Revolution

Between the 16th and 19th centuries, Great Britain experienced a remarkable increase in agricultural production. This he achieved through the introduction of new techniques, such as enclosure, artificial selection, and mechanization. All of this generated exponential population growth and contributed to the Industrial Revolution.

During this period, various inventors developed artifacts to perfect the cultivation of the land. Among them, the Jethro Tull planter (1701), which allowed the seeds to be spread more efficiently.

In 1843, scientific research on fertilization began, which led to the construction of the first factories responsible for producing artificial fertilizers, such as sodium nitrate and phosphate.

Agriculture in the 20th century. Source: Ewing Galloway via wikimedia commons.

- 20th century and today

In 1901 the first gasoline-powered tractor was built. Later, mechanical harvesters were created that were in charge of sowing and transplanting the crops automatically. This allowed agriculture to be carried out on a greater scale and speed.

Furthermore, through globalization, nations were able to exchange a wide variety of inputs. This resulted in most nations obtaining their food from other parts of the world; This phenomenon, although it allows making treaties and establishing relations between countries, generates dependency.

Today, concerns about climate change have generated a wave of organic farming, which does not use pesticides or artificial fertilizers. It is necessary to clarify that agriculture has been ecological most of the time, however, this changed in the 19th century with the development of synthetic materials.

In view of the dire consequences that the excessive exploitation of the land has brought to the planet, many organizations are trying to recover the natural agricultural uses of yesteryear. However, it is an arduous process that can be interrupted by political and economic interests.

References

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