Neolithic Revolution: Farming

Farming gives us the indispensable gift of food. The origin of farming is very much older and it's one of the concepts that have shaped the world.

We saw many changes which changed the course of History, which have shaped the course of the world so fundamentally that we would not recognise modern life. But if we ask people what the most important historical revolution is and their answers might include: the Industrial Revolution, the Information Revolution, or maybe even the French Revolution. But one thing we all forgot that without the Neolithic Revolution, none of the above would have taken place. It is the period of time more than 14,000 years ago, which modern day farming can be traced back to. Agriculture allowed hunter gatherer societies to form permanent dwellings. With food no longer the sole motivation for existence, the way was paved for the development of government, trading and individual specialization.

The origin of farming is very much older than once thought and emerged gradually rather than all together. Ten of thousands years ago people domesticated dogs for hunting Campinas, and also domesticated sheep and goats. They also have nurtured wild fruits and nut trees. Further, the idea of planting selected seeds of wild plants such as grasses in order to grow crops. 

When arable farming did begin, the effect on the human way of life was dramatic. No longer would people move around hunting and foraging. To plant, tend and harvest their crops, people had to settle permanently in one place and build stable houses and villages. The need to organise labour, planting, harvesting and storage, and the availability of surpluses for trading, soon led to the development of the town, government, building, writing and everything we associate with the development of civilization.