Sodak
Paha Sapa Papa
It is accepted that agriculture sprang up independently in several regions of the world, altho each area had its own techniques, plants, and domesticated animals. Some good works have been done to determine what plants or animals originated where.
Where
Many places can be cited as probably sources of major crops. These are identified in different ways. For any plant, genetics is often a key. Most every domesticated plant has wild relatives. Where these grow, and in what conditions, often can narrow down a plant origin to a general geographic area. With seed crops, pollen can tell where a certain plant has grown. Other clues involve cropping techniques and linguistics. Contrary to armchair ideas, agriculture most likely did not begin on floodplains or river valleys. Later techniques allowed these areas to become the most productive, but not at the start. Rather, hills and open woodlands provided both the ideal locations and plants for agriculture to begin. The earliest techniques were probably the use of cuttings to grow a new plant. Seed agriculture followed.
Animal domestication can be pinpointed by archaeological and historical records. However, rapid dispersal can muddle any real conclusions. Some traits add clues to how domestication dispersed. For instance, most southeast Asian domestics were household animals, while those from the middle east were herding animals. Where such practices differ tells whence the domestication came.
For plants, southeast Asia and eastern India, Central America, the highlands from Turkey thru Iran, and Ethiopia are all prime areas considered to be centers of origin. The former two for cutting agriculture, the latter two for seed agriculture. Ethiopia is also a staging point into which many Asian domestics found their way into Africa.
The QUIZ!
Plants
1) This perennial seed plant from India has been harvested in Asia for eons using cutting techniques. The plant adapts fine and is now the world's primary grain (I think...). It has been found in neolithic settlements as far from its origin as northern China.
2) This medicinal plant originated in the Andes, and was used primarily for shamanism and ceremony, as drinking it caused hallucinations. A milder species has been cultivated for many centuries for less serious use.
3) 3 of the oldest Mediterranean domesticates are all trees. All 3 are reproduced with cuttings, not seeds. What are they? (Hint: The fruit of one is my favorite dessert, and originated in either India or Arabia.)
4) Bananas are now grown around the world. Where was this tropical fruit originally domesticated?
5) This central american grain spread quickly throughout North America, likely due to its hardiness and high nutritional value. It became so important to the sedentary Indians that it took a place in most pantheons, playing a key role in creation stories. Today it is one of the world's most important crops, producing food, fuel, and materials for a dizzying array of uses.
6) This central or south american bean was originally used as a special beverage. Europeans added sugar, et voila! The world's most popular non-nutritive food. What is it? (It is technically not domesticated, but is controlled and harvested)
7) Rubber is a naturally occurring sap of the rubber tree (duh). Tho guarded, it was eventually smuggled from its original extents to another, equally hospitable place, which surpasses the source as a rubber producer. Whence does rubber come, and where is it now primarily produced? (Bonus ?s: Who smuggled it? What color is it?)
8) Sorghums and lentils are grown throughout the old world, and have several origin areas. However, most of both types of plant come from one region. Where?
9) Wheat, originating in Syria, was one of the earliest grain crops. Two other plants grew with it in southwest Asia, but dispersed as weeds. Once wheat was brought to northern europe, where it does not grow well, the former weeds found themselves the dominant plants in agriculture. What two important grains are former wheatfield weeds?
10) What would the world be like without booze? Wine comes from grapes, beer usually from barley. In what 2 highland areas were these originally domesticated?
If there is interest, I will make a follow up quiz about spices...
Where
Many places can be cited as probably sources of major crops. These are identified in different ways. For any plant, genetics is often a key. Most every domesticated plant has wild relatives. Where these grow, and in what conditions, often can narrow down a plant origin to a general geographic area. With seed crops, pollen can tell where a certain plant has grown. Other clues involve cropping techniques and linguistics. Contrary to armchair ideas, agriculture most likely did not begin on floodplains or river valleys. Later techniques allowed these areas to become the most productive, but not at the start. Rather, hills and open woodlands provided both the ideal locations and plants for agriculture to begin. The earliest techniques were probably the use of cuttings to grow a new plant. Seed agriculture followed.
Animal domestication can be pinpointed by archaeological and historical records. However, rapid dispersal can muddle any real conclusions. Some traits add clues to how domestication dispersed. For instance, most southeast Asian domestics were household animals, while those from the middle east were herding animals. Where such practices differ tells whence the domestication came.
For plants, southeast Asia and eastern India, Central America, the highlands from Turkey thru Iran, and Ethiopia are all prime areas considered to be centers of origin. The former two for cutting agriculture, the latter two for seed agriculture. Ethiopia is also a staging point into which many Asian domestics found their way into Africa.
The QUIZ!
Plants
1) This perennial seed plant from India has been harvested in Asia for eons using cutting techniques. The plant adapts fine and is now the world's primary grain (I think...). It has been found in neolithic settlements as far from its origin as northern China.
2) This medicinal plant originated in the Andes, and was used primarily for shamanism and ceremony, as drinking it caused hallucinations. A milder species has been cultivated for many centuries for less serious use.
3) 3 of the oldest Mediterranean domesticates are all trees. All 3 are reproduced with cuttings, not seeds. What are they? (Hint: The fruit of one is my favorite dessert, and originated in either India or Arabia.)
4) Bananas are now grown around the world. Where was this tropical fruit originally domesticated?
5) This central american grain spread quickly throughout North America, likely due to its hardiness and high nutritional value. It became so important to the sedentary Indians that it took a place in most pantheons, playing a key role in creation stories. Today it is one of the world's most important crops, producing food, fuel, and materials for a dizzying array of uses.
6) This central or south american bean was originally used as a special beverage. Europeans added sugar, et voila! The world's most popular non-nutritive food. What is it? (It is technically not domesticated, but is controlled and harvested)
7) Rubber is a naturally occurring sap of the rubber tree (duh). Tho guarded, it was eventually smuggled from its original extents to another, equally hospitable place, which surpasses the source as a rubber producer. Whence does rubber come, and where is it now primarily produced? (Bonus ?s: Who smuggled it? What color is it?)
8) Sorghums and lentils are grown throughout the old world, and have several origin areas. However, most of both types of plant come from one region. Where?
9) Wheat, originating in Syria, was one of the earliest grain crops. Two other plants grew with it in southwest Asia, but dispersed as weeds. Once wheat was brought to northern europe, where it does not grow well, the former weeds found themselves the dominant plants in agriculture. What two important grains are former wheatfield weeds?
10) What would the world be like without booze? Wine comes from grapes, beer usually from barley. In what 2 highland areas were these originally domesticated?
If there is interest, I will make a follow up quiz about spices...
)
It's not coca, either, btw.
