The origin of agriculture is as old as the existence of man. Agriculture began about 10,000 years ago as a result of man's quest for taking care of himself and family. Being that food is very important for the survival of man therefore propelled man into agriculture. Apart from the quest for food, man equally needed shelter, clothing as well as desire to stay healthy. This without fail led man into the era commonly called gathering and hunting.
Agriculture centres around both plants and animals. These and their by-products served as a means of meeting man's needs. The origin of agriculture can be traced to India, Asia and Egypt. Later on, America, Africa and China began agriculture. The unfriendly nature of the climate led to various agricultural activities. The discovery of the use of fertilzers was a big boost to mass production of plants.
Agricultural methods differs among countries such that the developed nations are advatageous compared to the underveloped and developing nations. This as a matter of fact has made those that are technologically advanced to be agriculturally advanced as well. These advancements is evident in their increased their production of agriculural products. It is often postulated that a system called Nutafian gained ground in Asia and China which contributed immensely in their agicultural activities. Due to increased demand for agricultural products people satrated exploring agriculure so as to make it better for best. This without fail has encouraged increased demand for agricultural resources. Pioneers of agricultural history believed that plants or crops that are now cultivated domestically were at one point in time wild in nature.
By history, some notable hypotheses were put forward to explain the evolution of agriculture. One of these is the oasis hypothesis put forward by Raphael Pumpel(1980) which was promoted by Verve Gordon E. This hypothesis states that because of dry conditions agriculturists at that time moved closer to oasis. Others are the evolutionary hypothesis, dmestication hypothesis, specialization/innovation hypothesis, demographic theories, Hilly Flanks hypothesis, Feasting model and the Levantine primary model.
During the Neolithic era, some argue that the real origin of agriculture cannot be established because by then writing has not been invented as at when there was men started gathering hunting. The earliest plants cultivated were rye (10,000 BCE), wild grain in Africa and Asia(20000 BCE), rachis (about 9500 BCE), wheat, barley, flax, peas,fig trees etc.
Agricultural activities in the bronze age can be traced to the Sumerians(C. 5500 BCE) that used special labour force as well as the use of land for monocropping & irrigation. This was followed by the Egyptians who were farming at the Nile valley. Grapes, wheat, barley, apples, dates, etc were some of the crops cultivated in this era. Oxen were used for ploughing and sickles were used in harvesting sickles. The Syrians were known to make use of wagons, oxen, collars and headstals.
The classical era of agriculture was dominated by the Romans & Greece which they learnt from the Sumerians. The Romans were known for their Monarial economic system. Their farms have various sizes-small, medium and large. The management of the farmers was by themselves, slave managers, tenant farming as well as leasing them to tenants. Depending on the type of soil, their agricultural specialization was based on the production of olive oil, wine and grains.
As a result of civilization each regions of the world started improving on their agricultural activities on a daily basis to what it is presently. Hopefully, as time goes on more sophisticated methods may be achieved especially now that technology keeps advanacing.
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