1. The Revolutions

2. 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?

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. 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.

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

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

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

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

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

12. 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

13. 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!

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