3 Agricultural Revolutions

3 Revolutions of Agriculture

• Neolithic Revolution (about 10,000 years ago)
• Industrial Revolution (1600-1900)
• Green Revolution (1950's through today)

Neolithic Revolution

• Started at multiple spots (hearths) around the world
• Nomadic hunter-gatherers settled into communities
• Crop cultivation (Seed and Vegetative Agriculture)
• Animal Domestication (Breeding to not live wild)

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Effects of 1st Revoultion

• Reliable food supply (food storage)
• Rapid increase in population (Stage 2)
• Job Specialization
• Distinction between nomads and settlers

2nd Revolution

Industrial Revolution

• Started in Europe- Late 1600s
• New Techniques- Crop Rotation,
•  New Technolgoy- Seed Drill, Tractor
• These brought increased crop yields
• Crops from the Americas- easy to grow

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Better Transportation

• Could get crops to market faster 
• Could get goods to further places
• Allowed for industries to develop
• Market Areas Exapand (Von Thunen)

Effects of 2nd Revolution

• Less labor needed to produce more
• Increased food production/population
• Larger farms/More land can be farmed
• Brought Urbanization- farmers moved to city

3rd Revolution

Green Revolution (1950-Now)

• Started to end world hunger
• Scientists create:
• Seeds that yield more (Rice, Corn)
• Synthetic fertilizers 
• Better pesticides

Effects of the 3rd Revolution

• Allows for major population increase
• Essentially stops world hunger (poverty)
• Health and environmental damage
• Debate about GMO (Genetic Modified Organism)

Agriculture