Agricultural Revolutions Flashcards
1
Q
Describe Agricultural revolutions in Asia/Africa/Europe
A
- transition from food gathering to cultivation
- begins in Middle East 10 000 YBP
- Cereal grains, storable food surpluses
- domesticated animals for meat, dairy and traction power for ploughing
- permanent settlements “sedentism”
- growth pop = diseases = social hierarchies = cities = states = taxes = militarism
2
Q
WHat are some general features of agriculture in the americas?
A
- much land unsuited to agriculture
- a vertical continental axis = obstacle to diffusion
- nevertheless, switch to cultivating in some areas
- planting of crops, moslty w/o livestock
- digging stick, earth mound tillage, rather than plough
3
Q
Does sedentism exist without agriculture ? how ?
A
Yes:
- fishing-based villages in BC, pacific coast of SA
- villages sustained by rich interior wetlands ex amazonia, mississippi region
4
Q
Where is maize from ?
A
- central mexico / valley of mexico
- rich natural environment
- Teosinte, domesticated ca 7000 YBP
5
Q
what’s the wild plant at the origin of maize?
A
teosinte
6
Q
What allowed for the spread of maize?
A
Its genetic mutability
7
Q
Describe the migration of maize
A
1) valley of mexico
2) diffusion south and north
3) new varieties to adapt to new climate zones
4) transforms societies, population, power
8
Q
Describe agriculture in South America
A
1) beans and quinoa on Pacific coast
2) guinea pigs, llama domesticated in peru
3) potatoes in peru from 5000 YBP
4) Cassava /manioc; in tropical settings
5) maize spread across, but rarely serves as food staple; corn beer and popcorn
