Question

What is the Agriculture Revolution?

I just need to know what it is. If you want, you can also add some details. This is for my study guide. Please help and thank you! :)

Answer 1

There are several agricultural revolutions; the term may refer to the Neolithic Revolution; as opposed to those of the 18th Century or the 20th.

Explanation:

The Neolithic Revolution marks the beginning of farming, particularly in what are now parts of Iran, Iraq and Turkey, where humans first formed permanent settlements and began to practice agriculture.

Approximately 12,500 years ago, as the last Ice Age ended, humans in what is now called the Fertile Crescent of the Zagros Mountains between Iran and Iraq and the Taurus Mountains of Southern Turkey, began to stay closer to dependable food sources.
There is evidence of a diet heavy in acorns, and then seed-bearing grasses (Emer Wheat, Barley, Peas, Lentils, etc).

Over a period of time -- perhaps in only a few centuries -- people formed permanent settlements and learned to plant and harvest these plants for themselves. Populations grew, permitting the appearance of specialists, and allowing humans to experiment with other food sources like figs and oats, and then many others.

Farming communities soon outproduced hunter-gathering communities and the boundaries of settlement spread. Other peopled may have either learned farming for themselves (certainly so in the Americas), or trading networks in Europe, Asia and North Africa carried new ideas back and forth.

Settlement probably promoted the domestication of animals, once hunting became more problematic. Sheep, goats, pigs and cattle were being raised by humans by 7,000 BC. These early communities also formed the basis for the first towns, the first, cities and civilization itself.

Read “Guns, Germs and Steel “ by Jarad Diamond for more detail.