The development of agriculture

DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURE IN SOUTHWEST ASIA AND EAST ASIA Development of Agriculture

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Part 1 .Development of agriculture in Southwest Asia

Southwest Asia is a region surrounded by seas and mountains and lies at the crossroads of Europe , Africa and Asia . Southwest Asia was the center of development of the earth 's civilizations . Towns emerged on the plains of Mesopotamia and highlands of Iran and Anatolia by 7000BC and some of these became centers of chiefdoms . The first efforts to form empires are

documented and are used by archaeologists from different countries to reveal the processes that gave rise to these successively more complex socio-political systems . This varied geographical and climatic setting of south west Asia encompasses the natural habitats of wild plants and animals which were the first to be domesticated . The area was conducive for farming as well for hunting-gathering since its annual rainfall was over 250mm . Environmental changes occurred during the period between 11 ,000-9600 BC and recovery took 50 years (Human Past 2005

Plant and Animal Domestication

Plant domestication - Southwest Asia was very conducive for plant domestication especially wild legumes and cereals . The main domesticated cereals were wheat , rye and barley which began in the early aceramic period . This domestication was evidenced by plant species rye in abuhureyra , Jordan valley and southern Syria . Cultivation was intensified during the Neolithic period , which was around 8800 BC during this time the climate was conducive and population had grown

Hunting and Herding - Southwest Asia 's potential for animal domestication was evidenced from the long-lived settlement sites and may have occurred after plant domestication at around the transition period of earlier and later Neolithic (World Archaeology 2007 . The domesticated goats have been found in Ganj Dareh in Iran , sheep and pigs in turkey and northern Syria

Mixed Farming Economies : More settlements emerged during the period of between early and later a ceramic Neolithic period . The demographic theory which states that the rise in population following the end of ice age forced people to adopt agriculture ' seems to hold water although an agreement is yet to be reached (Human Past 2007

The Evidence of Ali Kosh : Ali Kosh lies in areas which are conducive for wild resources and domesticates (World Archaeology 2007 . Successive strata indicate permanent and large buildings as well as increased cultivated and wild plants . The oasis theory which states that The relationship between humans and environment is the key reason for agricultural development ' comes forth . Also there were few ecotones for supporting sedentary hunters-gatherers but many locations for domesticated species especially in the sites of hureyra , catalhoyuk and ain Ghazab

Social Exchange and Networking : This is the feasting hypothesis which argues that the desire for new things , new states , respect and recognition as well as ability to throw feasts led to development of agriculture in this region . Due to the fact that the obsidian and marine shells were found hundred of kilometers from their sources serve as an evidence of exchange networks where communities...