Transcript Agriculture Development… Lecture 2 Domestication of Animals Development of Irrigation Development of Agri-cultures AGST 3000 Agriculture, Society, and the Natural World.

Agriculture
Development…
Lecture 2
Domestication of Animals
Development of Irrigation
Development of Agri-cultures
AGST 3000
Agriculture, Society, and the Natural World
Domestication of Animals
I. Herd animals (cattle, sheep, goats)
domesticated by seed planters
II. Dooryard animals (dogs, pigs, geese,
chickens, ducks) domesticated by
vegetable planters.
III. Man may not have begun to keep
animals for practical reasons – inborn
tendency for keeping pets.
Domestication of Animals continued…
IV. Young animals tend to become attached
to people due to imprinting – tendency to
follow first living thing seen or heard.
V. A state of mutual indifference between
man and wild animals may have been
requirement of domestication.
VI. Totemism may also have encouraged
domestication.
Domestication of Animals continued…
VII. Cattle are most important livestock
accounting for:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
50% of the world’s meat
95% of the world’s milk
80% of the world’s hides
important draft animals (oxen)
originated in Central Asia, spread to
Europe, China, and Africa around
9,000 BC
Origins of Domestic Animals
Middle East
China
Mexico
Ethiopia
Panama
Peru
Domestication of Animals continued…
VIII. Man had to develop methods to
harness the full power of draft animals
A. i.e., horse pulled 4 times more than
man, increased to 15 times with a
harness
IX. Western Hemisphere development
delayed due to lack of herd animals
A. i.e., failure to invent wheel, plow,
arch, rotational devised water wheels,
etc.
Development of Irrigation
I. Irrigation developed by
civilizations in arid/semiarid
regions practicing seed
culture.
Irrigation continued…
II.
Irrigation was vital to the growth of
civilization in both hemispheres.
A. Development of engineering skills spurred
by technical aspects of diverting river water,
draining marshes, building levies and dikes
and canals.
B. Mathematics and astronomy developed as a
basis for measuring land, time, and seasons.
C. Modern calendars developed in Egypt
around 6,000 years ago (Egypt remains the
longest lasting irrigation based society.)
Irrigation continued…
III. Irrigation was successful over
time where annual flooding
leached excessive salts and
replenished soils through
siltation.
IV. Average life-span of irrigated
societies was 40 to 60
generations (1,000 – 1,500 years)
Agricultural Societies
Social Affects…
Sedentary* Agri-culture
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Accumulation of storable food-stuffs and
other wealth
Food surpluses and other capital represented
the prerequisite conditions for further
cultural advance--for civilization.
What can be stored can also be stolen, thus
– Need for Security…Walls around the city
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Creation of wealth paradoxically meant the
creation of "security problems"
*Living in one place
Agri-culture…
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As wealth increased in societies, insecurity
and social unrest increased with it
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Thus the need for government
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This was a new mode of social organization-a division between those who direct and
manage and those who are directed.
As specializations emerged in the economy,
inequalities of wealth and status emerged
with them.
– Hierarchies of wealth, status and power began to
characterize the new societies.
Man lost his innocence with
the agricultural revolution.
Why?
I.Because man does not have to
accept the environment.
II. Man can adapt the environment
to his purposes and needs.
Journal
2History of Agriculture Discussion…Evolution of
Domesticated Plants and Animals
1. What were the factors in the development of plant culture (domestication)
where they occurred throughout the world?
2. What were the factors in the development of animal culture
(domestication)?
3. What were the natural factors that made it possible to domesticate the
types of animals involved?
4. What probably was the first example of a man made irrigation system and
what were the factors that made it work?
5. As we look at ancient societies, what factors required the development of
villages, protective barriers, government, etc.?
6. What do you think have been some of the most significant developments of
modern (last 50 years) agriculture and why?
7. Do you feel that today’s agriculture is better today than in the past when
you consider the impacts on our society and environment? Why?