Chapter 3 Summary
Growth of Agriculture and Trade
Growth of Trade in Food Commodities
Growth of trade of grains
once civilizations began to emerge in different part of the world, food helped make connections between different cultures. trade routes acted as international communications networks and helped link people, fostering not just commercial exchange of food but also an exchange of cultural and religious ideas.
the trade in food and especially in spices led to the establishment of shipping routes and eventually to the discovery of the Americans or the new world regions, including Europe, Asia and Americans. these new trade routed also led to establishment of Europe colonies and colonial outposts.
exploration and colonisation was necessary was to gain access to raw materials and agricultural products that could not be produced in explorers home countries. another reason for adding territories was to find new markets for the country's own produce.
three domestic plants -wheat,corn and rice are of great significance in the development of agriculture as they laid the foundations for civilization and continue to be a voluble food source for humans to this day. where corn and rice are important grain crops grown in carious regions throughout the world
Corn
farmers in ancient Mesoamerica (modern-day mexico) were the first to domesticate and cultivate corn. the cultivation of corn soon spread into the southern states of america and south Peru. as the Mesoamerican people migrated north to present day north america, they took corn with them. when European explorers such as Christopher Columbus made contact with people living in north ans south america they collected corn seeds and took them back to Europe. corn is now the most widely cultivated crop in the world
Rice
Rice is the second most important cereal group grown throughout the world and was first domesticated in the pearl-river valley of china. from east Asia, rice spread to south east Asia and southern Asia, and was introduced to Europe throughout western Asia around 1850
Wheat
where was one of the first grains to be domesticated it as originally grown in an area known as the fertile crescent in 10000 BCE.
wild einkorn and emmer wheat varieties were cultivated in ancient times by selective breeding from wild and cultivated grass varieties. the cultivation of wheat began to spread beyond fertile crescent during the neolithic period, about 10000 BCE
Patterns in global spread of food production
10000 BCE humans began the transition to hunter-gather lifestyle towards cultivating and domesticating crops and animals.
The development of agriculture made it possible for a more settled lifestyle
By 5000 BCE agriculture was practiced across most continents - Animals that we know today were domesticated by 6000 BCE Growth of trade in food commodities
food helped make connections between different cultures.
Trade routes acted as international communication networks
This fostered the exchanged of cultural and religious ideas, as well as commerce
The trade of food (especially spices) saw the establishment of shipping routes and the discovery of “the new world”
A main reason for exploration was the access to raw materials and agricultural products and the establishment of new trade markets to export to.
Trade routes were established to America (Columbus), Europe to India (Da Gama) and led to the establishment of the Dutch East India Company
Two of the most important trade exchanges was between Columbus and the Cubans (Corn) and the Caribbean where he recognized that the climate would be suitable for sugar cane seedlings
The trade in grains can be traced back to the ancient world it began with corn in Mexico, rice in ancient China and wheat and barley from Egypt.
Between 1000 BCE and 600 CE cereals became an important commodity in China and the Romans also introduced cereals in the Mediterranean region. This led to the spread throughout Eurasia.
This was enhanced through the colonization of America and Australia by the British. This saw large areas used for cultivation of cereals.
This was enhanced through the colonization of America and Australia by the British. This saw large areas used for cultivation of cereals.
Tea and Coffee
Tea: cultivation began in China. It became established quickly and spread to Japan where the tea ceremony became an important part of their culture. It then spread to Asia and the Middle east in the 6 th century CE. It was first mentioned in Europe in the16th century.
Growth of trade of tea
The Portuguese established a trading centre in Macau where the sale and purchase of tea was a major activity. After this the Dutch established a trading route in Indonesia and tea first made it back to Europe. In 1600 Queen Elizabeth I established a company to ship tea from china to England.
Coffee: The first plants were discovered in Ethiopia in 600 CE. It was spread by the pilgrims of Islam quickly to the Arabian Peninsula and became established in Yemen where the conditions were ideal for cultivation. It then spread to Turkey, this is were merchant travelers took Coffee to the rest of Europe.
Coffee is believed to be the second most globally traded commodity after oil. It seemed to arrive in the UK around the 16th century. The current demand of the product is strong, with an export market of 64.48 million bags of coffee in 2015
Spices, sugar and chocolate
Spices have been a commodity throughout human history and became one of the worlds biggest industries. Sugar and chocolate were also quickly desiredSpices: today they are plentiful, but in the medieval times, they were rare and precious products. The Egyptians used a range of spices to embalm bodies. In India spices were cultivated as early as the 8 th century. They used many spices to ward off evil spirits and as medicines. They were quickly traded to the Chinese and Greeks. By the Middle Ages spices were used to mask the task and aroma of rotting meat. And throughout Europe, peppercorns were used to pay taxes and rent..
Growth of trade in Spices:
The Egyptians first used camels to establish trade routes used for the spice trade. The Silk Road was established and allowed goods to be transported from China to India and then on to the Roman Empire. Spices were so valuable that nations were driven to establish new routes to the spice rich orient.
The trading of spices help to establish vast empires. Alexander the Great established Alexandria as a port to trade spice. When the Romans developed a route through the Red Sea to trade directly with the Indians the effectively broke the Arab monopoly on the spice trade.
The pursuit of spices was a motivating factor for early European explorers such as Columbus and Da Gama as they sought access to the Indies. This led to the discovery of the “Spice Islands” in Indonesia (Cloves and Nutmeg were grown here). The Dutch East India Company took a control of these islands and held a monopoly on trade. In 1815 nutmeg arrived in Europe, at the same time American businessmen began dealing in the spice trade.
Sugar
It is thought sugar cane was first cultivated in 6000 BCE, and a slightly different species in India later on. In 700 BCE the Arabs learnt how to cultivate sugar cane. They then established sugar cane production in North Africa and Spain.
The expansion of sugar continued to Europe as a result of the crusaders. Columbus took sugar cane plants to the Americas and Caribbean
Sugar beet was identified as a source of sugar in 1774. It suited more colder climates of Europe. Sugar Cane was bought to Australia by the first fleet, but due to the climate of NSW was not very successful. It was later cultivated in QLD.
Growth of trade in Spices:
Sugar was a rare and costly commodity in Europe. It quickly spread from New Guinea and India, first to the Mediterranean and then to the Atlantic. By the middle of the 17th century it was no longer considered a luxury item. Sugar colonies were established in the Barbados, Jamaica by the UK and they became important in the development of the UK as a trading nation.
Chocolate
The cacao tree was originally cultivated in Mesoamerica around 1900 BCE. They fermented the cacao beans and served it as an alcoholic beverage. Cacao beans were brought to Europe in the 16th century. The Spanish sweetened the cacao with sugar and it quickly became a popular drink.
Growth of trade in chocolate: Columbus is said to have brought the first cacao beans back to Europe from his fourth visit to the “New World”, but these were ignored. It is not until Cortes brought cacao beans and chocolate drink making equipment back to Spain in 1517 that it became fashionable – originally just in Spain for almost 100 years. Very gradually drinking chocolate spread across Europe reaching England in the 1650’s.
Growth of trade in Salt:
Salt
Originally gained by humans through the consumption of animals, as the diet of humans changed it was gradually added to grains and vegetables and then later used to salt meat, fish and pickle vegetables.
By 6000 BCE, salt was being mined in China and was vital in peasant life. As well as vegetables and eggs it was used to make soy sauce.
As early as 6050 BCE, salt was important part of the world’s history, where the romans traded salt and used it to salt fresh food.
Growth of trade in Salt:
Salt was one of the first commodities traded. It was used as a form of currency. Bars of salt were carried from the coast of African to inland cities of the Middle East and traded for valuable items.
Early trade began with the ancient Greeks, where they traded salt for slaves. The Phoenicians traded salt with the Egyptians. In the 6 the century, Rome’s political leaders controlled the trade of salt by placing a tax on its sales. It was soon traded across the Roman Empire to the UK, France, Spain and Italy.