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Questions and Answers
The term "agriculture" encompasses which of the following?
The term "agriculture" encompasses which of the following?
The origins of agriculture can be traced back to prehistoric periods.
The origins of agriculture can be traced back to prehistoric periods.
True
What is domestication?
What is domestication?
The process of adapting wild plants and animals to be used by humans.
Which of the following are considered hearths of agriculture?
Which of the following are considered hearths of agriculture?
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What is the era characterized by significant advancements in agriculture commonly referred to as?
What is the era characterized by significant advancements in agriculture commonly referred to as?
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The concept of agriculture has often been constrained in its breadth, with a tendency to concentrate on specific activities and creatures.
The concept of agriculture has often been constrained in its breadth, with a tendency to concentrate on specific activities and creatures.
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What is domestication characterized by?
What is domestication characterized by?
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Domesticated animals have typically originated from socially inclined species in their natural habitats.
Domesticated animals have typically originated from socially inclined species in their natural habitats.
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What are some of the methods of subsistence farming?
What are some of the methods of subsistence farming?
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What does shifting cultivation involve?
What does shifting cultivation involve?
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Shifting cultivation can be considered a sustainable practice in areas with low population density.
Shifting cultivation can be considered a sustainable practice in areas with low population density.
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What is sedentary farming?
What is sedentary farming?
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Nomadic herding, also known as nomadic pastoralism, is one of the oldest forms of herding.
Nomadic herding, also known as nomadic pastoralism, is one of the oldest forms of herding.
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Study Notes
Prehistoric Period
- Prehistoric period is pre-literary history, lasting from 2.5 million years ago to 3,600 BCE
- Early humans lived in caves, huts or tepees
- Were hunter-gatherers
- Used basic stone and bone tools, including crude stone axes
- Paleolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic are the three prehistoric ages
Agriculture
- Agriculture encompasses crop cultivation and livestock rearing
- Aims for subsistence and economic profit
- Earliest forms date back to prehistoric times, with domestication of plants and animals
- Geographic regions of origin are called hearths
- First Agricultural Revolution marked significant advancements
Origins of Agriculture
- Agriculture was constrained to specific activities like wet-rice cultivation or cow ranching
- However, humans can be seen as environmental engineers, significantly altering areas for sustenance
- Areas can support more plant and animal species used for human needs
- Domestication is the biological process where organisms are selected for human use, resulting in traits helpful to humans
- Domesticated plants have enlarged seeds, fruits or tubers
- Domesticated animals are selected for beneficial qualities
Agriculture in Less Developed Countries
- Subsistence farming is common in many less developed countries, primarily for household needs not trade
- Four types of subsistence farming:
- Shifting agriculture (slash-and-burn) involves clearing land, farming for a few years, then moving to another plot
- Sedentary farming means continuously growing crops in the same area
- Nomadic herding involves moving livestock to new pastures
- Intensive subsistence farming involves intensive cultivation of small plots of land for community needs
Agriculture in More Developed Countries
- More advanced agricultural technology for higher yields and productivity
- Commercial farming characteristics: fewer farmers, high mechanization, large-scale operations, and sales to processing entities
Pastoral Nomadism
- A subsistence farming method centered on herding domesticated animals
- Often combines reliance on sedentary agriculture and livestock herding
- Common in dry regions, where animals are moved to find suitable pasture/grazing
- Often women and children tend crops, while men herd
The Green Revolution
- Norman Borlaug is a key figure in the Green Revolution
- Initiated wheat research in Mexico, leading to disease-resistant and high-yield varieties
- Led to the widespread dissemination of these technologies and higher crop yields in many areas, particularly wheat production in India.
- Introduced IR8 rice, which expanded rice production in Asia.
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Description
This quiz covers the Prehistoric Period, discussing the lifestyle of early humans as hunter-gatherers and their transition to agricultural practices. It explores the significance of the three prehistoric ages and the origins and evolution of agriculture, including the first Agricultural Revolution.
