Unit 5 Flashcards
- Define agriculture.
The deliberate modification of the Earth’s surface through the cultivation of plants and rearing of animals to obtain sustenance or economic gain
Tropical
Indonesia or countries in Africa near the equator Coffee, sugar, pineapple
Subtropical
West Indies or parts of Indonesia Rice, cotton, tobacco
- Describe intensive agricultural practices.
Practices that often require less land but more capital and labor, and are traditionally located closer to larger population centers
Dry (Grasslands/ Continental Steppe)
Mongolia, or the western portion of the United States
Cattle, sheep, goats, horses, camels
Mediterranean
California, Chile, or geographic areas surrounding the Mediterranean Sea
Grapes, olives, dates
Warm Mid-Latitude
Southern China and the Southern United States Vegetables, fruits, rice
Cold Mid-Latitude
North-central part of the United States, southern, Canada, and eastern Europe Wheat, barley, livestock
- Describe intensive agricultural practices.
Practices that often require less land but more capital and labor, and are traditionally
located closer to larger population centers
Plantation
Tropical & subtropical Africa, South Asia, Southeast Asia Cotton, sugarcane, coffee, rubber, tobacco, bananas, tea, coconuts, palm oil Large commercial farms in developing countries focus on one or two crops. Owned by companies in developed countries. Products are sent to the MDCs from the plantation
Market Gardening
Southeastern United States, Southeastern Australia Apples, asparagus, cherries, lettuce, mushrooms, tomatoes Long growing season and a humid climate. Most of the food is processed, canned, or frozen, then sent out to the markets on trucks
Mixed Crop/ livestock
Central Europe, the United States Midwest Corn, soybeans, beef, eggs, milk, pork Crops, and livestock are integrated. Crops are fed to animals; animals supply manure to improve the sail. The majority of farmers’ income comes from selling animals
- Describe extensive agricultural practices.
Practices that tend to use less labor and capital, require more land for the production of food, and are traditionally located farther away from population centers
Shifting Cultivation
Southeast Asia, South America, sub-Saharan Africa Rice, maize, millet, sorghum, cassava Farmers clear land for planting; farms grow crops on the cleared land, after nutrients are depleted the land is left to fallow.
Nomadic Herding
Southwest Asia, North Africa, Central Asia, East Asia Sheep, goats, camels, horses (grain is obtained through trade) Farmers migrate with their animals across the landscape
Ranching
Western North America, Southeast Latin America, Central Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, South Pacific Cattle, sheep, goats Originally, ranching was focused on the free-range herding of animals. Today, more ranchers have shifted to closed fields, or in places like the United States CAFOS and industrial systems.
- Explain how the physical environment can influence the type of agriculture practiced in a location.
In places with a dry air climate, farmers are forced to practice pastoral nomadism due to a lack of arable land. In places with a longer growing season and a mild climate, horticulture is more popular. In regions with more access to arable land, more sedentary agriculture is practiced.
Long Lot
A narrow parcel of land that traditionally connects to a waterway. (Originally popular in Europe and areas settled by the French, such as Louisiana and Quebec)
Metes & Bounds
Boundaries based on landmarks in a geographic area. Metes are the lines used to create the boundary and bounds are the key geographic features of the area. (Originally popular in England)
Township & Range
A survey method that creates a grid pattern by dividing the land into rectangular parcels. (Originally used in the United States)
- Complete the table on the different agricultural hearths below: Fertile Crescent
Wheat, oats, barley
- Complete the table on the different agricultural hearths below: Sub-Saharan Africa
Yams, coffee, sorghum
- Complete the table on the different agricultural hearths below: Central America
Maize, potatoes, squash, peppers
- Complete the table on the different agricultural hearths below East Asia
Rice, soybeans Southeast Asia Mangos, coconuts
- How did the Columbian Exchange impact life in the New World?
New diseases were brought to the New World, decimating many populations. Horses, cows, sugar cane, and other foods and livestock were introduced, which changed life in the New World.
- What is the Neolithic Revolution?
This was the first agricultural revolution. It was a time period in which humans shifted from hunters and gatherers to sedentary agricultural practices
- How did the Columbian Exchange impact life in the Old World?
Crops like the potato became a mainstay of many European diets; this allowed for a population boom because the potato plants produced more food per acre. Other crops, like corn, tomatoes, and squash, also came over to the Old World.
- How did the agricultural revolutions help diffuse different species of animals and plants around the globe?
As society advanced and technology grew, it was possible to trade with other societies more. During the Second Agricultural Revolution, new inventions, such as the steam engine, made it possible to move food/livestock farther and more efficiently. During the Green Revolution, new agricultural techniques were practiced around the world, allowing new strains of crops to be produced, reducing food shortage
What historical event caused the Second Agricultural Revolution?
The Industrial Revolution
- Identify five different inventions that impacted the Second Agricultural Revolution.
1) Iron/Steel Plow 2) Mechanized seed drilling 3) Barbed Wire 4) Grain elevator 5) McCormick reaper/harvester
- Explain what the enclosure movement is and how it impacted food production.
This movement occurred in England when small farms were consolidated into larger farms. Land that was once publicly owned was now privatized, allowing for more output of food and pushing people to urban areas. The result was more food for society, increased urbanization, and a population boom
Category Impact of the Second Agricultural Revolution: Social
Many people left their rural lifestyles and moved to urban areas. Families spent more time working in factories and in the city. This caused overcrowding challenges in cities and concerns for worker rights
Category Impact of the Second Agricultural Revolution: Economic
Fewer farmers were needed to produce food, which allowed for more citizens to be able to work in other industries. This caused the rise of urbanization, which led to new jobs, products, and production moving from the household to the assembly line
Category Impact of the Second Agricultural Revolution: Health
New cities became overcrowded, which led to the diffusion of new diseases due to poor sanitation, cramped living conditions, and lack of healthcare knowledge. Work conditions lacked safety measures to protect workers
- Explain how the Industrial Revolution and Second Agricultural Revolution impacted Thomas Malthus.
Thomas Malthus noticed a significant increase in population growth. This was due to society entering Stage 2 of the demographic transition model, thanks to the Industrial Revolution and Second Agricultural Revolution. This led Malthus to create his theory that the population would continue to grow exponentially, while food production would grow at an arithmetic rate, leading to a Malthusian catastrophe
Genetically modified organism (GMO)
An organism whose genome has been altered to promote specific traits that allow for increased production in livestock production or crop farming
Fertilizer
A chemical or natural substance that, when applied to the soil or land, increases the soil’s fertility
Pesticide
A substance used for destroying insects or other organisms that are harmful to cultivated plants or animals
Herbicide
A substance used for destroying unwanted vegetation
Describe Dr. Norman Borlaug’s role in the Green Revolution.
Borlaug is recognized as the falser of the Green Revolution. He conducted extensive research in Mexico with the objective of cultivating a new strain of wheat that could withstand the region’s challenging growing conditions. He developed a novel semi-dwarf wheat variety that revolutionized agricultural production in Mexico, India, and Pakistan
- Identify four different positive aspects of the Green Revolution.
1) Increased yields for farmers 2) Cheaper food for consumers 3) More food stability in the world 4) Less need for human labor 5) Increased economic productivity
- Identify four different negative aspects of the Green Revolution.
1) Increased number of factory farms 2) Decreased number of family farms 3) Farmers focused on profits over animal rights 4) Technologies and practices often negatively impacted local environments 5) Reduced the local biodiversity