Prehistoric Agriculture
Neolithic Revolution
The revolution when humans switched from hunting-gathering to farming.
What is Egypt?
Civilization known for building irrigation systems along the Nile.
What is the iron-tipped or moldboard plow?
Metal plow developed in Greece & Rome for heavy soils.
One major effect of these innovations was more ________ and growing populations.
Food
How do you prevent seed wastage?
Planting seeds systematically in rows
What are domesticated plants?
Early humans grew crops like wheat, barley, rice, and maize.
What is the plow?
This tool, eventually pulled by oxen, allowed for deeper soil tilling.
What are horses and oxen?
Animals used to pull plows, carts, and threshing tools.
What is Selective Breeding
Process of breeding the best plants and animals for improved traits.
What is a watermill?
Machine powered by water to grind grain.
What are animals (goats, sheep, cattle)?
Early humans domesticated these for food, milk, and labor.
What is terracing?
Hillside farming method used by Mayans, Chinese, and Andeans.
What is the three-field system?
In medieval Europe, one-third of land rested while two-thirds were planted.
What is seed drill?
Invented by Jethro Tull, this tool planted seeds in uniform rows.
What is a digging stick or hoe?
Tool used in prehistoric agriculture to dig and plant seeds.
What are stone tools, hoes, and digging sticks?
Tools used by early farmers to dig and plant seeds.
What is crop rotation?
Alternating crops to keep soil fertile.
What are windmills and watermills?
Machines powered by wind or water to grind grain and pump water.
What is the Enclosure Movement?
Laws that turned common lands into private property in England.
The switch from hunting-gathering to farming allowed humans to settle in one place and build ________.
Permanent Villages
Why did domestication of plants and animals lead to a more reliable food supply?
farming allowed humans to grow food instead of relying on hunting and gathering?
Building terraces on hillsides helped reduce soil erosion and allowed farmers to grow crops in areas that were on ________.
Hills or Mountains
The three-field system and plows increased food production, which allowed populations to ________ and towns to ________.
Grow & Expand
Selective breeding and the seed drill together helped farmers produce more food with less labor, which contributed to the ________ in Europe.
Population Growth
Watermills and windmills converted natural energy into work; this is an early example of using ________ to improve farming efficiency.
mechanical power or renewable energy