DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURE (Paper 1)

objectives

 Development of early agriculture

 Early agriculture in:
 Egypt
 Mesopotamia
 The Agrarian Revolution in
 The food situation in Africa and the rest of the Third World
 Remedies of food shortages

1. State the contribution of Jethro Tull to agrarian revolution

 Invented the seed drill
 Invented a horse-drawn hoe
2. Outline two non-environmental reasons for domestication of crops and animals by man.
 Increase in human population
 Competition for food between animals and human beings.
 Overhunting depleted stocks
 Hunting and gathering had become tiresome / insecure
 Some crops and animals had economic value.
 To provide security.
3. Give the reasons for the developments of early agriculture along the river valleys.
 Fertile soil
 Water for irrigation
 High population along the valleys.
 Existence of wild crops
4. Social consequences of early agriculture in Egypt and Mesopotamia
 Population increase
 Settled life (Permanent settlement)
 Started enjoying leisure time
 Development of religion (worship systems)
 Development of urban centers
 Social classes emerged as per specializations e.g. land owners, potters, black smiths
5. Name two urban centers which developed as a result of early agriculture in Mesopotamia.
 Ur
 Uruk
 Eridu
 Nippur
 Kish
 Babylon
6. Identify one agricultural machine invented in Britain between 1701 and 1900
 Seed drill by Jethro Tull in 1701
 Horse drawn hoe in 1701
 Mechanical thresher 1876
 Iron plough 1825
7. Explain any 6 effects of early agriculture in Egypt
 Improved agriculture led to increased food production
 Settled life
  Increased food production improved living standards
 Surplus production led to increased trading activities
 Promoted specialization e.g. tool making, geometry for surveying
 Promoted formal education e.g. writing, arithmetic and geometry to keep farm records e.g. the calendar
 Urban centers such as Mephlis, Akhetaton, Thebes and Aswan developed as agricultural centers
 Improved transport e.g. sailing on River Nile
 Led to emergence of a new class of people e.g. wealth, priests, scribes e.t.c.
 Led to the development of religion e.g. offering
8. Name two invention that facilitated the development of early agriculture in Mesopotamia
 The ox-drawn plough
 The seed drill or machine planter
 Shadoof
9. What was the major contribution of Lord Viscount Townsend in modern farming
 He developed a four-course crop rotation (the Norfolk system)
10. List five factors that facilitated the development of agriculture in USA before 1800
 The presence of indigenous crops
 Enter pricing European emigrants
 Existence of fertile soils that supported different types of crops
 Slave labour was abundant to work
 The climate was suitable for different crops and animals
 Immigrants from Europe brought new farming methods and crops
11. Describe five major inventions in the discoveries by Europeans in the field of agriculture
 Invention of the modern fertilizer industry by a German, Justus Liebig
 Invention of the mechanical thresher by Andrew Meikel made harvesting easy
 Invention of the seed drill by Jethro Tull eliminated seed broadcasting.
 Lord Townsend recommended the use of Norfolk crop rotation system
 Experiments on breeding in animals were done by Robert Bakewell. This has increased yields in animal
products
 Nicholas Appart, a French confectioner developed the canning process to preserve perishable farm
products
12. Name one crop that was domesticate along Tigris and Euphrates river valley in Mesopotamia.
 Wheat
 Barley
 Figs
 Vegetables
 Olives vines
13. Measures taken by third world countries to solve food crisis
 Improved methods of crop cultivation and improvement of soil fertility e.g use of fertilizers crop
rotation etc
 Improved animal production through cross breeding etc.
 Establishment of Research stations to improve food production
 large scale and small scale irrigation schemes have been established
 Idle land is being reclaimed
 Farmers are provided financial assistance in form of loans
 Marketing facilities have been improved.
 Prices of food crops have been increased to motivate farmers
 Chemicals to control pests and plant diseases have been introduced.
 Many countries have engaged in land consolidation to encourage individual land tenure.
 Farmers are encouraged to grow drought resistant crops.
 Agricultural extension services have been provided to farmers.
 Leaders have encouraged political stability
  Improvement of transport and communication to improve access.
14. Features of the British agriculture before mid 18th C
 Use of simple tools
 Open field system was used
 Land was left fallow
 Communal land ownership / feudal
 Farming was for subsistence
 Land was fragmented
 Small scale farms
 Low yields / no use of fertilizers
 Broadcasting method of planting seeds
15. Factors for the development of early agriculture in Mesopotamia.
 Presence of indigenous crops e.g. barley and animals like sheep.
 Presence of fertile soils along R. Tigris and Euphrates.
 Availability of water for irrigation.
 Invention of farming tools e.g. the hoes , ploughs, etc
 Presence of transport systems e.g. donkeys, canoes / river transport.
 Availability of slave laborers.
 Settlement of Sumerians brought agricultural knowledge from the Iranian Plateau.
 High demand for food from the growing population
 Construction of dykes to control floods
 Political stability
16. Identify the main contribution of John Deere to the development of agriculture in the united states of
America
 Invented the steel plough
17. Give five disadvantages of the traditional system of farming in Britain before 18th century.
 A lot of land was left fallow / not fully utilized.
 Lands were small and discouraged the use of machines
 A lot of land was wasted by cattle and foot paths that criss-crossed the farms.
 Allowed easy spread of livestock diseases and uncontrolled breeding in livestock.
 Broadcasting method of planting led to wastage of seeds.
18. Explain five changes that marked the agrarian revolution in Britain.
 Fallows were abolished and available lands used effectively.
 Introduction and use of fertilizers in farms
 Introduction of crop rotation
 Use of farm machineries like the seed – drill and horse drawn hoe.
 Inter cropping to retain land fertility
 Selective breeding of livestock
 Fencing of farms / enclose system.
 Use of pesticides and herbicides to crop/ livestock diseases and weeds.
 Increased Agricultural research by institutions like the royal Agricultural society.
19. How the Homestead Act of 1862 promoted the Agrarian Revolution.
 The act legalized individual land ownership and thus encouraged Americans to work hard on their farms.
 It also authorized the federal government to grant financial assistance and loans to purchase and develop
land
20. One use of the wheel is the Ancient period in Mesopotamia.
 Making high quality pots.
 Building war chariots.
 Making wheeled carts.
21. Name given to the early form of writing developed in Egypt
 Hieroglyphic
22. The impact of the Agrarian Revolution on the European society
 Introduction of new crops e.g. potatoes, citrus fruits, maize and turnips led to diversification of
agriculture.
 The improved farming method led to the increase in food production
 The population increased due to abundant food.
 The Agrarian Revolution led to the expansion of both local and international trade
 The development of agriculture stimulated the expansion of transport network e.g. roads and railway to
transport farm produce and farm input.
 It contributed to the Industrial Revolution by providing the raw materials required in the agro-based
industries
 Displacement of the poor led to rural –urban migration.
 Mechanization of agriculture led to redundancy of manual laborers unemployed
 Some of the landless people migrated to USA, Canada ,Australia New Zealand and South Africa
(abroad)
 Led to the establishment of large scale farming
 It lead to the increase of Land because of the profits that farmers were making from their produce.
23. Identify one way in which political instability causes food shortages in some countries in Africa
 Civil wars causes insecurity hence people do not settle and farm
 Destruction of farm crops and livestock
 Diverting funds from food production to purchase fire arms
24. What were the advantages of the land Enclosure system in Britain?
 Led to development of large scale farming hence more land brought under cultivation
 Increased food production because more land was brought under combine harvesters
 Promoted mechanized of Agriculture e.g seed drill, combined harvest
 Promoted mechanization of Agriculture e.g. seed drill, combine harvesters
 Increase in food production led to increase of population
 Enhanced control of spread of pests / diseases hence high quality produce
 The land value appreciated
 Improved the transport systems to transport Agricultural produce to the markets
 Invention of new methods of conserving soil fertility e.g use of manure ,crop rotation fertilizers
 Establishments of organization that disseminated information about new agricultural inventions e.g
Royal Agricultural society.
 Mechanization of Agriculture led to local and international trade
25. Define the term agrarian revolution
 It refers to the rapid changes and improvement in agriculture
26. Give the main effect of the land enclosure system in Britain.
 It resulted to landlessness
27. State three aquaculture practices used in European before the Agrarian revolution.
 Small scale forming
 A shifting agriculture /cultivation
 Subsistence farming/ peasant farming
 Use of simple agricultural implements e.g. hoes
 Broadcasting.
28. Define the term ‘Neolithic period’
 The cultural period that was characterized by primitive crop growing, stock rearing, use of pointed stone,
flint tools and weapons.
29. Describe the effects of the agrarian revolution in Britain (12mks)
 Food security due to improved farming methods
 Trade expanded locally and internationally
 Poor farmers lost their land
 Transport systems like roads and railways improved
  Industries benefited from agricultural raw materials
 Rural – urban migration
 Large farms / plantations were set up.
30. Advantages of the enclosure system to Britain
 it replaced the wasteful open – field system
 it made land a valuable asset
 it improved security to land ownership since the farms were now fenced
 it improved farm output
 farmers could now use title deeds to secure loans
31. Identify two factors which favored development of domestication of animals in ancient Mesopotamia.
 Changes in climate conditions resulted in aridity which forced animals to migrate.
 Need for protection, security and hunting / dog.
 Adaptation of settled life necessitated domestication.
 Over-hunting by early man led to reduction of animal population.
 Increase in human population.
 For sacrificial purposes ( religion)
 Economic value of animals e.g. cows for milk, meat and skins.
 Some animals were found to be social e.g. cat.
 Some animals were friendly e.g. dog.
32. Identify one area in Africa where agriculture began.
 Egypt.
33. Where did the domestication of crops and animals begin?
 South west Asia /middle East / Mesopotamia
34. Explain the effects of the agrarian revolution in the USA
 Many parts were opened up for settlement in North America
 Development of towns due to population increase
 Development of industries as raw materials were available from farms
 There war increased wealth and high standards of living
 There was unemployment as a result of introduction of machines in farms
 Transport systems improved in order to transport farm produce.
 Health improved and population increased
 Trade developed between USA and Europe as they exchanged farm produce
 Gave rise to black American Communities as African were taken to work in the plantation in America
 Has led to diversification of agriculture with the introduction of different types of crops
 America has given food relief to many third world countries
35. A factor that encouraged the production of perishable agricultural goods during the Agrarian
Revolution.
 The discovery and use of refrigeration facilities.
36. Identify two methods of irrigation used in Egypt.
 Shadoof irrigation method
 Basin irrigation method/canal
37. State three agricultural practices used in Europe before the Agrarian Revolution
 Small scale farming
 Shifting cultivation
 Peasant/subsistence farming
 Use of simple tools
38. Method used to plant cereal crops when early Agriculture began.
 Broadcasting.
39. Identify two social benefits derived from the domestication of animals in the late stone age
 Animal skins were used for clothing and bedding.
 Animal hooves were used as containers and drinking vessels.
  Horns were used as communication instruments.
 Horns were used to make ornaments, needles and weapon.
 They ensured regular food supply e.g. meat and milk.
 Man was able to control and dominate his environment
40. Give two ways in which the Agrarian Revolution in England affected the lives of Small scale farmers.
 Rich landlords bought off poor farmers thus creating a class of landless people.
 The poor sold off their land and moved to town leading to overcrowding and poor living conditions in
town.
 Mechanization rendered many poor farmers redundant.
 Emigration of other peasants to USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.
 Poor farmers were exploited as they sold their labour to the rich farmers and factories.
41. Mention two theories that explain the beginning of agriculture
 Diffusion
 Independent theory
42. State five factors that led man to start domesticating of plants and animals
 Diminishing hunting grounds
 Hunting and gathering was tiresome
 Competition for food between man and animals
 Climatic changes that affected vegetation
 Availability of indigenous crops
 Increase in population
 Migration of animals
 Natural calamities that destroyed vegetation
43. Two factors that led to development of Neolithic period
 Development of tools
 Hunting &gathering become tiresome
 Increased in human population – natural environment couldn’t sustained
 Climatic changes – increased drought/aridity
 Competition for food btw man &animals
 Calamities –bush fires and floods
44. State two ways in which people are affected by food shortages in developing countries.
 Death
 Invested by diseases
 Hungary and starvation
45. Two cash crops grown in North America during Agrarian Revolution
 Tobacco
 Maize /corn Cotton
 Wheat