Agriculture
I. Define- Deliberate modification of Earth’s
surface through the cultivation of plants
and rearing of animals to obtain
sustenance or economic gain
II. First agriculture revolution
A. Hunters and gatherers
B. 1st agricultural revolution –
domestication (10-12,000 years ago)
C. Animals – evidence, purpose
Domesticated after plants
D. Hearth areas
1. Vegetative
Southeast Asia, West Africa
South America
2. Seeds
India / Fertile Crescent
East China, Mesoamerica
HEARTH CROPS ANIMALS
SE/East Asia Taro, yam, banana, Dog, pig, chicken
coconut, rice, coffee,
millet
West Asia / Fertile Barley, wheat, Sheep, goat, horse,
Crescent watermelon dromedary camel,
water buffalo, cat
Africa Yam, oil palm, okra Cattle
Central America Corn, avocado, Dog, turkey
chocolate (cacao),
chili pepper, tobacco,
cotton
South America Manioc, potato, Guinea pig, llama
III. Impact of domestication
A.Social
1. Settlements
2. Social stratification
social evolution
3. Writing
B. Economic
1. Division of labor
2. Accumulation of material goods (wealth)
3. Wealth = need for security, army
C.Demographic
1. Population growth
2. Sanitation
3. Epidemics (proximity)
4. Diet
D. Environmental -
1. Deforestation
2. Desertification, salinization
3. More hours of labor
III. Second agricultural revolution
DIV.techniques agricultural
New Second revolution
New technologies
A.When
C. Hearth area, diffusion
B.Climate
D. Impact
C. Innovations- techniques, technologies
D. Hearth area, diffusion
E. Impact
V. Third - "Green Revolution"
A. When
B. Innovations
C. Diffusion
C. Impact - Moral economy
World Agriculture Regions
VI. Agriculture in LDCs
A. Shifting agr (swidden, slash and burn)
B. Pastoral nomadism
C. Intensive subsistence agr (rice)
mulberry, fish, rice system
D. Plantations
Labor Force in Agriculture, 2005
Fig. 10-3: A large proportion of workers in most LDCs are in agriculture, while only a small
percentage of workers in MDCs are engaged in agriculture.
VII. Agr in MDCs
A. Mixed crop and livestock
B. Dairy farming
C. Grain farming
D. Livestock ranching
World Corn Production, 2005
Fig. 10-7: The U.S. accounts for about 40% of world corn (maize) production. China is
the 2nd largest producer. Much of the corn in both countries is used for
animal feed.
VIII. Von Thunen Isolated State Model
distance and transport costs
A.Assumptions
B.Concentric zones
1.
2.
3.
4.
IX. Global food supply
A. Distribution
Actual v. relative scarcity
B. International policies
C.Agricultural monopolies
D.Biofuels
E.Political instability
F.Urbanization
G.Environmental issues
D. Local instability
Undernourished
Proportion
Fig. 10-16: The proportion of under-
nourished population has
declined in most LDCs, but is
much higher in sub-Saharan
Africa than in other areas of the
world.
Farmland Loss in Maryland
Fig. 10-1.1: Overlaps of soil quality, environmental & cultural features, and population
growth may show areas of greatest threat of farmland loss in Maryland.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2008/04/26/AR2008042602041_3.html?sid=S
T2008042602333