Author Description

The first reference work built around individual events in agricultural history, Agriculture in History presents 150 essays on the rise and development of agriculture throughout the world. The coverage of Agriculture in History is both geographically and chronologically immense. The set opens with a series of articles on the rise of agriculture in northern Africa and Asia as far back as 9000 B.C.E As the articles move forward in time, they cover the emergence of agriculture in all the world's populated regions and account for major advances in technology and the spread of crops through different parts of the world. Agriculture in History takes a broad view of its subject to encompass all aspects of human cultivation of food and fiber crops and the raising of poultry and livestock for human use. Essay topics include the building of dams and canals for irrigation; the development of chemical pesticides to combat threats to plant life; horticultural research; the invention of tools used for planting, harvesting, and processing agricultural products; the evolution of farm-labor systems; government efforts to foster agricultural production, manage land use, and oversee marketing; and the devastating impact of natural disasters on agricultural systems. The categories included in this set are: Agricultural origins; Animal husbandry; Conflicts; Environmental issues; Famines, floods, and other disasters; Farm labor; Government actions; International issues; Marketing; Technological change; and Water and irrigation. - Publisher.