Childrens Illustrated Encyclopedia

205

AgriculturAl revolution

During the 18th century, new methods of

agricultural production were developed

and breeds of livestock were improved,

such as the huge Berkshire pig (above).

the invention of new machines, such

as the seed drill, allowed farmers

to produce more crops.

crop growing

in about 10,000 bce, farmers in the Middle east began to

plant crops to provide food. cereals, such as wheat, barley,

and millet were the main crops. in the Far east, people first

grew rice in about 6,000 bce.

The huge Berkshire pig

was first bred for meat

in the 18th century.

MechAnizAtion

During the 19th century, the development of steam

power and, in the 20th century, the combustion

engine changed agriculture forever. tractors

replaced horses as the main source of power,

and railroads and refrigerated ships meant

that food could be transported all over

the world.

eArly FArMing

the first farmers domesticated

(tamed) wild animals and

kept them in herds to

provide meat, milk, hides,

and wool. Some people

became nomadic

herders rather than

farmers; they moved

their animals continuously

in search of new pasture.

the picture shown here was

painted in a cave in the Sahara

Desert in Africa about 8,000 years ago,

at a time when the desert was grassland.

Seed drill

MeDievAl FArMing

in the 11th century, the hard horse collar came

to europe from china. it allowed horses,

rather than oxen, to pull plows. By

the 13th century, european farms

consisted of open fields and each

peasant farmer had a piece of

land. later, much of the land

was enclosed

with ditches

or hedges.

irrigAtion

Farmers need a good supply of

water for their crops. in china

and other Far eastern countries,

where rice is the main crop,

water flows along channels on

the terraced hillsides to make

the paddies for growing rice.

growing cropS and breeding animals for food

are among the most important steps ever taken by

humankind. Before farming began, people fed

themselves by gathering berries and other plant

matter and hunting wild animals. people were

nomadic—they had to move around to find food.

About 12,000 years ago in the Middle east, people

discovered they could grow cereal crops, such as

wheat. these people were the first farmers. with the

start of farming, people began to settle permanently

in one place. villages grew into towns and cities.

Farmers produced enough food to support the

population, so some people were free to do other

jobs such as weaving, and making pottery and tools.

Since everyone depended on farming for their food,

however, many people died of starvation

when the crops failed because of bad

weather. over the centuries people

have tried many different ways of

producing better crops. in the

agricultural revolution of the

1700s, new scientific methods

helped overcome the problem

of crop failure. today, farming

is a huge international industry.

Steam

tractor

history of

farming

Find out more

engines

Farm animals

Farming

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