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. |
