History of Agriculture in Brief

Agricultural Science is a broad multidisciplinary field of biology that encompasses all aspects of crop production, livestock farming, aquaculture, forestry for food and non-food products.

Agriculture is basically defined as the art and science of cultivating the soil, growing crops, and raising livestock. It not only provides us Food grains (Cereals + pulses) but also fulfill the need of oilseed, fiber, sugar /starch, beverages, milk, egg, meat for human consumption and fodder /grasses for animal consumption too.

Talking about the word "Agriculture" it has been originated from two 'Latin' words - "Ager/Agri" (meaning -Soil) and "Cultura" (meaning - Cultivation).

Similarly, different fields under agriculture have been originated from different languages.

• Agronomy - two Greek words - "Agros"(meaning-field) and "Nomos"(meaning- to manage)
• Horticulture- two Latin words - "Hortus" (meaning-garden) and "Cultura" (meaning-culture/growing)
• Entomology- two Greek words - "Entomon" (meaning- insects means cut into sections) and "Logos" (meaning-discourse)
• Phytopathology -three Greek words - " Phyton" (meaning- plant), "Pathos" (meaning- ailments) and "Logos" (meaning-knowledge)
• Soil - from Latin word " Solum" (meaning-ground or floor of earth crust)
• Extension - from two Latin words "Ex" (meaning- out) and "Tensio" (meaning- stretching).

An easy way to remember - words ending with "Cultura" are mostly originated from 'Latin' words and words ending with "Logos" are mostly originated from 'Greek' words😊

Important events in ancient history of agriculture

After the evolution of the First true man Homo erectus (1.5 million year ago) the search for food started. Before agriculture became widespread, hunting and gathering was the only way to fed themselves. As the Cro-Magnon man Homo sapiens sapiens emerged methods of using fire and search for shelter and food also evolved. 

• It was believed that the First pet domesticated by human was Dog (10,000 B.C ago) for hunting.
• Later on, sheep was domesticated in 8700 B.C
• Domestication of Goat took place in 7700 B.C
• Cultivation of crops started around 7500 B.C and First crops cultivated were Wheat and Barley.
• In 6000 B.C- Domestication of cattle and pigs took place
• In 4400 B.C - Maize cultivation started
• In 3500 B.C -Potato cultivation started
• In 3400 B.C - Wheel was invented
• In 3000 B.C - Bronze was used to make tools
• In 2900 B.C - Plough was invented and Irrigated farming started
• In 2700 B.C - Silk moth was domesticated
• In 2300 B.C - Cultivation of chickpea, pear, sarson and cotton took place.
• In 2200 B.C -Cultivation of Rice took place
• In 1800 B.C - Finger millet cultivation started
• In 1725 B.C - Sorghum cultivation started
• In 1500 AD - Cultivation of Sugarcane and Irrigation through wells started
• In 1600 AD- Crops were introduced by Portuguese. They include -Potato, sweet potato, arrow root, cassava, tomato, chilies, pumpkin, papaya, pineapple, guava, custard apple, groundnut, cashewnut, tobacco, American cotton, rubber etc.

Agriculture in India was Subsistence type later Portuguese by introducing commercial crops during 1600 AD results in Commercialization of agriculture.

Hence, there are four stages involved in the development of agriculture, which is oriented with human civilization. 

1.Hunting- Primary source of food in old days

                                                     Hunting by Early man

2.Pastoral- Domestication of animals took place e.g., dogs, horses, cattle, buffalo etc.

3.Crop culture - Settlement near riverbeds and crop cultivation started. Agriculture became civilized from crop culture stage.

4.Trade - This stage results in exchange of extra produce that results in infrastructure development like road, routes etc.

Animal domestication and crop cultivation 

      

Trading of agriculture produce