History of Agriculture
Evolution of Humans & Early Agricultural Practices
- Homo erectus evolved around 1.5 million years ago and spread across the world.
- Homo sapiens appeared 35,000 years ago in Africa, distinguished by intelligence, tool-making, and fire control.
- Early human activities: Hunting, gathering, tool-making, fire use, and early domestication of animals (dogs).
Key Events in Agriculture
|
Time Period |
Event |
|
8700 B.C. |
Domestication of sheep. |
|
7700 B.C. |
Domestication of goats. |
|
7500 B.C. |
Cultivation of wheat and barley. |
|
6000 B.C. |
Domestication of cattle and pigs. |
|
4400 B.C. |
Cultivation of maize. |
|
3500 B.C. |
Cultivation of potatoes. |
|
3400 B.C. |
Invention of the wheel. |
|
3000 B.C. |
Use of bronze for making tools. |
|
2900 B.C. |
Plough invention & start of irrigated farming. |
|
2700 B.C. |
Silkworm domestication in China. |
|
2300 B.C. |
Cultivation of chickpea, pear, mustard, and cotton. |
|
2200 B.C. |
Domestication of fowl, buffalo, and elephants. |
|
1800 B.C. |
Cultivation of finger millet (Ragi). |
|
1725 B.C. |
Cultivation of sorghum. |
|
1500 B.C. |
Cultivation of sugarcane and irrigation from wells. |
|
900-1000 A.D. |
Manuals on agriculture (Krishi Parashara, Vrikshayurveda) written. |
|
15th Century A.D. |
Cultivation of sweet orange, brinjal, pomegranate. |
|
16th Century A.D. |
Portuguese introduced potato, tomato, tobacco, chillies, pineapple, groundnut, rubber to India. |
|
1795 A.D. |
Flora Indica published, study farm at PUSA (Bihar) started for horse breeding. |
