Part 1

Read the text and answer the questions.

History of Agriculture
In the beginning of human history, and for many years that followed, humans were hunter-
gatherers, which means they hunted animals for survival and gathered food from existing plants.
People lived a nomadic lifestyle, moving from place to place throughout the year, following the food
supply during the changing seasons.
However, as the ice age and glaciers covering part of the earth began to melt and retreat, plant life
patterns and the areas where growth of plants changed as well. The humans would not need to travel as
often because there were plants available for their food supply. The hunter-gatherer societies began to
learn about the crops which grew at the different times and places each year.
They could now stay in one place for several years to take advantage of the food sources and cordon
off wild crop areas that had the most abundant resources. Most likely, when moving, they would also
take herds of livestock using them for milk, meat, fur, and other resources. The food they stored would
often need to last for the next season.
The origin of farming dates to around 10,000 years ago somewhere in the Indus Valley, part of the
northwestern region of South Asia. A separate development may have taken place in China along the
Yangtze River. Humans first domesticated crops and later livestock.
During early civilization, around 5,000 BC, agricultural science and technology was further
developed. The Sumerian civilization of the Middle East and other early civilizations knew there was a
need for a specialized agricultural workforce for the survival of societies. During this period, irrigation
systems were developed, used as a system for watering plants. The focus on agriculture led to the
development of the first cities.
The first cities then led to other aspects of society, such as the first written laws, religious practices,
social attitudes, and legal codes. Complex societies, like Ancient Egypt, arose before the rise of the
Greek civilization, and it was due to their agricultural system.
In Egypt, the Nile River relied heavily on the seasons throughout each year. The river flooded its
banks and part of the surrounding countryside, which was called The Inundation. Nearly all aspects of
life in Egypt centered around the Nile River, especially their religious structure. The river was life-
giving in a small area of the country because Egypt was mostly a desert region.
The Romans and Greeks borrowed much of their agricultural knowledge from the civilizations they
had contact, such as those of the ancient Near East such as Mesopotamia, but through the Sumerians.
Large-scale animal and plant agriculture began in the Roman Republic. It became more efficient and
could sustain the empire's large cities. It became a necessary industry for human survival.
The innovation continued between early and modern civilization. The Arab Agricultural
Revolution began due to the diversity of local topographies (landscapes). Crops were grown in the
Middle East and Indus Valley and was desired by European societies. It later acted as a trade bridge
between the Far East and Europe.
Europe's agricultural history began during the 11th century when the Church became major
landholders. Technological advances also took place such as cross-breeding in animal livestock, and
other systems of organization. Various remnants of the agricultural systems have been found in Europe.
The final modern agricultural development began in the 16thcentury when crop rotation was begun,
where increased yields of crops would take place by switching land use every year. The method was
perfected during the 16th century.
Finally, in America, modern agricultural practices were not present until the arrival of European
colonists, though the Native Americans did have some limited agricultural practices, but it was not the
same across all tribes. It most likely began between 2500 and 2000 BC.

1) Which of the following best describes hunter-gatherers?

A: Early humans who hunted animals and then gathered the food following the hunt
B: Early humans who hunted animals and collected plants for their food supply
C: Early humans who hunted for areas to grow crops and gathered the food
D: Early humans who hunted and gathered animals

2) Which of the following is the name of the lifestyle practiced by early humans?
A: Hunter
B: Gatherer
C: Nomadic
D: All the above

3) Approximately, the origin of farming dates back how many number of years?
A: 10,000 years ago
B: 5,000 years ago
C: 7,000 years ago
D: 2,000 years ago

4) Which of the following rivers was all aspects of life centered in Ancient Egypt?
A: Egyptian River
B: Arab River
C: Indus River
D: Nile River

5) Which of the following words is best defined as a topography?

A: Landscape
B: Mountain
C: Valley
D: River

6) In which of the following centuries did crop rotation begin?

A: 14th
B: 15th
C: 16th
D: 17th

Part 2
Create a Pictionary, using the vocabulary that your partners
used in their PowerPoint presentations.