Rubenstein's AP Human Geography - Chapter 10, Key Issue 1: Where Did Agriculture Originate?

Introduction

• Agriculture: Deliberate modification of Earth's surface through cultivation of plants and rearing of animals for sustenance and economic gain.
• Agriculture's origins are uncertain, possibly evolved from hunters and gatherers.
• Major differences in farming between less developed countries (LDCs) and more developed countries (MDCs).

Historical Context

• Hunters and Gatherers
  • Small groups due to resource limits, traveled frequently.
  • Today, less than 0.005% of the world’s population are hunter-gatherers (e.g. Spiniflex people of Australia, Sentinelese people of India).

Agricultural Revolution

• Definition: Transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture, allowing permanent settlements.
• Origins: Unclear, possibly observed plant growth from dropped seeds leading to deliberate planting.
• Impact: Population increase as agriculture allowed more stable food supply and permanent settlements.

Crop Hearths

• Southwest Asia: Barley, wheat, lentil, olive (10,000 years ago).
  • Spread to Europe and Central Asia.
• East Asia: Rice (Yangtze River), millet (Yellow River).
• Sub-Saharan Africa: Sorghum, yams, millet, rice; spread southward.
• Latin America: Beans, cotton (Mexico), potato (Peru), maize (diffused north and south).

Animal Hearths

• Southwest Asia: Cattle, goat, pigs, sheep (~8,000-9,000 years ago).
• Dogs: Domesticated ~12,000 years ago across Southwest Asia, East Asia, Europe.
• Horse: Originated in Central Asia, linked to Indo-European spread.
• Other Regions: Sheep, goat, pig, dog (Middle East), llama, alpaca, turkey in specific areas.

Subsistence vs. Commercial Agriculture

• Subsistence Agriculture
  • Found in developing countries.
  • Produces food mainly for family consumption.
  • High percentage of farmers, small land plots.
• Commercial Agriculture
  • Found in developed countries.
  • Produces food for sale, often one cash crop.
  • Low percentage of farmers, use of machinery, large farm sizes.

Differences in Agriculture Practices

• Technology and Machinery: More machinery in commercial agriculture.
• Farm Size: Larger in commercial agriculture with fewer farmers.
• Transportation: Better infrastructure in developed countries, facilitating market access.

Conclusion

• Agriculture practices vary greatly between regions due to historical, cultural, and technological factors.
• Understanding these differences is crucial for studying human geography and the evolution of societies.