Introduction
Many historians take different viewpoints on whether the development of civil society led to the introduction of agriculture or the agricultural advancement made society and humanity advance. Most, however, agree that agriculture started a long time ago, and in its preliminary stages, it was combined with other methods of gaining food like hunting and gathering. It is also clear that agriculture had a significant influence on society’s development as the regions that favoured agriculture, like Europe, ended up being more civilized than other religions. For instance, civilization and industrial development were catalyzed by agricultural expansion and started in Asia and later spread to Europe and North America. Most of the earliest industrialized practices were Agri-based and included tools and fairly sophisticated equipment to control soil erosion and facilitate irrigation. Barter exchange grew to enhance people from different regions that produced other agricultural products to share the outcomes. This change facilized the growth of towns and the economy as it is known today. Clearly, agriculture had a massive influence on developing societies, from creating trade to bringing industrialization, education and social classes.
Agricultural Influences on Developing Civil Society
Little is known about how people lived and survived in pre-historic periods. However, almost all historians agree that all people were hunters and gatherers before the emergence of agriculture. For example, Hansen and Curtis point out that “all ancient people were hunters and gatherers, constantly in motion, whether following herds of animals or gathering berries and plants” (19). This pursuit for food made humans realize that planting these seeds and domesticating some of the more friendly animals and then slaughtering them could be more beneficial than traditional hunting and gathering. This practice could not be considered agriculture per se as it was combined with the conventional ways of getting food. It did not fit Hansen and Curtis’s definition of agriculture: “The planting of seeds and harvesting of crops using domesticated animals” (19). This definition of agriculture was only achieved during the new stone age when Natufians began to use tools to enhance their agricultural produce.
The change to the way agriculture influenced society has been studied widely and then documented, gaining the name Neolithic revolution in the process. As stated above, this name is influenced by its association with tools and equipment. The Natufians first started by planting figs and leaving them while they hunted. They later advanced to grains which initially grew naturally but assisted their growth through weeding. Gradually, people grew to assimilate more advanced forms of farming, which greatly influenced how people lived in the community. For instance, growing crops and rearing animals ensured that people would live in one place, and the habit of always being on the move was altered. Hansen and Curtis state that “groups as large as 150 or 250 larger than typical 30 or 40 in hunter and gatherer bands” could be found in a small square rage of 10 800 after the shift (22). This new type of settlement structure was the catalyst of all changes and the development of the civilized society that is known today.
Influence of Excess Food Production
Due to climatical factors, some particular crops and animals did well in some parts while other agricultural products did well in other regions. Rains were also known to come at different times, which gave some areas food while others did not. As a result of these challenges, means of trade, initially barter trade, had to be improvised. Agriculture also influenced the growth of earlier cities like Jericho, a walled city to protect the people gathering from animals and people’s enemies. The agricultural impact also led to social classes in the society. Hansen and Curtis observe that “different types of houses in Catalhoyuk had different styles to indicate more wealth in some than others” (23). People who had excessive food could afford to spend their time on luxury, and this has been proved by the existence of beautiful knives and jewellery dated during the new stone age period.
How Agriculture Brought Industrialization
The agricultural revolution made it necessary to advance tools and equipment and thus spearheading the industrial revolution. In all ancient societies, from Natufians to early American settlers, good agricultural produce always made it possible for people to concentrate on other issues, including the manufacturing processes. Many scholars argue that the industrial revolution brought the agricultural revolution to an end. Still, a deeper look into the matter reveals that the development of agriculture enhanced the development of industries. For instance, agriculture made people settle in large numbers in particular areas. These large settlements made the people able to share ideas and manufacturing tools, thus enhancing the growth of industries. The large habitations could also have necessitated new living methods, movement, and communication, thus making this revolution necessary.
How Agricultural Influence Brought Trade
Agriculture and trade are historically correlated as the advancement of one ensured the progress of the other. For example, the trade routes that connected Africa, Europe, Asia and America made it possible for agricultural knowledge to be shared between different people. The fact that agriculture made people stop being in motion also facilitated the growth of populated regions that acted as markets for barter trade. From 8300 B.C.E to 6000 B.C.E major urban centres such as Jerico, Ain Ghazal, and Catalhouyuk had large populations thanks to agriculture and farmers from neighbouring regions frequenting the areas for trade (Hansen and Curtis 23). Remains of one of these cities, Caralhouyuk, are still present in modern-day turkey, revealing how the settlement patterns were.
Other Agricultural Influences
The number of changes that agriculture brought to society is numerous and intricate and impossible to list conclusively in one paper. One of these changes is the enhancement of water catchment practices. People came to realize the need to hold water for their plants and animals, leading to an abundance of water for humans as well. Agriculturists also discovered that tilling land left it vulnerable to soil erosion and other forms of land pollution. Construction of gabions, mulching, and planting crop cover, among other soil conservation practices, came alongside agriculture. Establishing robust economic systems where food was abundant was also another way agriculture helped human development. Some people always had more food than others and as a result, social classes developed in almost all civilizations.
Conclusion
Admittedly, agriculture had a significant influence on developing societies, ranging from creating trade to bringing industrialization, education and social classes. Regions with better agriculture like Europe witnessed more rapid development than other religions like Africa and the American continents. One of the most significant benefits of agriculture was providing ample food supply for all and spurring civilization. Agriculture enhanced development by bringing trade, enhancing economic growth, ensuring sufficient food supply, ensuring environmental conservation and creating social classes, each with different roles. Even today, in this digital era, agriculture still plays one of the most critical roles in society.
Work Cited
Hansen, Valerie, and Kenneth, R., Curtis. Voyages in World History, Complete, Brief. Cengage Learning, 2017.