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11,000 BCE
Agriculture Is Born!
People began a gradual transition away from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle toward cultivating crops and raising animals for food. The shift to agriculture is believed to have occurred independently in several parts of the world, including northern China, Central America, and the Fertile Crescent, a region in the Middle East that cradled some of the earliest civilizations. -
Period: 10,000 BCE to 3000 BCE
Neolithic Era
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9000 BCE
Crops
Around 9000 BCE, humans in the Near East, particularly the Fertile Crescent, began cultivating plants and domesticating animals, marking the beginning of agriculture. This period saw the emergence of various crops like wheat, barley, and peas, as well as the domestication of animals such as sheep, goats, and cattle -
6000 BCE
Animal Domestication
Around 6000 BCE, animals that humans hunted included familiar species like deer, elk, bighorn sheep, and smaller mammals -
6000 BCE
Irrigation Systems
The invention and first use of irrigation systems date back to ancient times, with evidence of various methods being used as early as the 6th millennium BCE. While the exact origins are difficult to pinpoint, ancient societies like those in Persia (modern-day Iran) and China developed sophisticated techniques, including surface irrigation (gravity irrigation) and rudimentary drip irrigation. -
3975 BCE
Plows
The first farmers planter their seed using only a stick to dig holes. Approximately 500 years ago the scratch plow was invented. This simple device allowed a domesticated animal to pull a sharp stick through the ground creating a gap in which seed could be placed. -
2000 BCE
New Crops
By 2000 bce we saw the cultivation of maize, beans, and squash, a practice known as "The Three Sisters". In India, cotton was grown and spun. -
300 BCE
Better use of animals
The usefulness of the improved plows was enhanced by the development of the horse collar which allowed horses to pull harder without choking itself. As well, harnesses were invented to allow more than one animal to be attached to a single plow. -
1200
Heavy Plow
The heavy plow was a significant agricultural advancement between 1200-1450, allowing for deeper cultivation of hard soils. It increased crop yields and supported population growth in medieval Europe. This tool enabled farmers to adopt more efficient farming practices like the three-field rotation system. -
British Agricultural Revolution
This revolution, also known as the Second Agricultural Revolution, led to improvements in farming practices, including new crop rotation systems, scientific breeding methods, and the use of new machinery. These advancements increased the food supply, fueled population growth, and contributed to the shift of labor from agriculture to industry, ultimately playing a crucial role in the Industrial Revolution. -
Period: to
Industrial Era
The Era of machinery and Advanced farming tools -
Industrial Machinery
During the Industrial Era, agriculture saw a dramatic shift toward mechanized farming. Key innovations included threshing machines, improved seed drills, and steam-powered tractors. These advancements allowed farmers to cover larger areas of land, leading to increased crop production and the rise of industrialized agriculture. -
Modern technology
Tools used in the present include automated tractors and harvesters, drones for precision farming, smart irrigation systems, agricultural robots, GPS and GIS technology, and various sensors for monitoring crop health and soil conditions. Additionally, modern agriculture relies on tools like precision planting equipment, harvesting tools, livestock management tools, and sustainable agriculture practices.