The Revolutions

Questions to Ponder How and why did agriculture begin? Where did agriculture originate? How and why did it diffuse? How and why did agriculture change human life?

Agricultural Revolutions First Agricultural Revolution Domestication AKA Neolithic Revolution 10,000 B.C. Plant & Animal domestication Second Agricultural Revolution Machines 1700’s-1900’s Agricultural Industrialization Improved methods of cultivation, harvesting, and storage of produce. Third Agricultural Revolution Biotechnology AKA Green Revolution Began in 1940’s, currently in progress Fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, high-yield seeds Genetically Modified Organisms

Causes of the Neolithic Revolution Environmental Factors End of the Ice Age Cultural Factors Women began domestication of plants Accidental or deliberate? Preference to live in permanent settlements

Effects of the Neolithic Revolution Primary effects: Increased population densities Urbanization Social stratification Occupational specialization Trade Secondary effects: Endemic diseases Famine Expansionism

Industrial Revolution Machinery allows for increased food production More factory workers = more factories and greater output Urbanization Agricultural Revolution Increased food supply allows for increased population. More efficient farming leads to less farmers. Both lead to more workers for cities that are fed by the farms.

Causes – 2nd Agricultural Revolution The primary causes were: Early mechanization/Industrial Revolution that increased crop yields Selective Breeding Enclosure movement

Causes: Mechanization Technology allows much greater production (surplus) with less human labor, but often has high social and environmental costs. Plow Tractor Cotton Gin

Causes: Mechanization Technology allows much greater production (surplus) with less human labor, but often has high social and environmental costs. Seed Drill Thresher Reaper

Causes: Mechanization Technology allows much greater production (surplus) with less human labor, but often has high social and environmental costs. Hay Baler Combine

Enclosure Movement Land was fenced (enclosed) and deeded to one or more owners. Increased the size of farms

Crop Rotation The rotation of crops through 3 or 4 different fields increased the yields The need for nitrogen was naturally increased with different crops or letting the field remain unplanted Rotate the deep root (sweet potatoes) and shallow root (corn) plants to help with field usage and yields

Impact of the 2nd Agricultural Revolution & The Industrial Revolution Increased food supply Increased population Improved cultivation (seed drill, crop rotation), irrigation, harvesting, yield, and storage Improved storage and shipping (railroad) Farms become larger Fewer farmers are needed Rural to urban migration (growth of cities) This is the beginning of commercial and industrial agriculture!

The Green Revolution Mechanization Chemical control of soil, pests, & weeds Genetic modifications of plants to make them suit our needs Drought resistant Roundup Ready