Agriculture History

The History of agriculture is deep with an intricate nuance, closely related to the history of each region but, in general agriculture was developed 10000 years ago. This timeline attempts to pinpoint where each main produce was domesticated.

10000 years ago

When?

It is beleved that agriculture was developed 10000 years ago, some evidence goes back to 12000 years ago.

Wheat

The earliest evidence for domesticated wheat. It was the first crop to be sown and harvested on a significant scale.

9500 BCE
8000 BCE

Rice

Rice and millet were domesticated by 8000 BC. Mung bean and soy followed soon after.

Barley

In Mehrgarh, we get the earliest sites with evidence of farming and Cultivating barley as well as wheat.

7000 BCE
5500 BCE

Organized agriculture

The Intensive farming enabled the Sumerians to grow dense population. Farming allowed accumulation of product for off-season use.

Sorghum

Sorghum and local rice was domesticated in the Sahel region of Africa.

5000 BCE
3000 BCE

Maize

Maize was first domesticated, in the Americas around 3000-2700 BC. Although there are evidence of a much older development. Potato, tomato, pepper and squash was also developed in the New World. turmeric and cardamom were harvested at Indus Valley around the same time frame.

Tea

Tea was first discovered by the Chinese Emperor Shennong in 2737 BC.

2737 BCE
1000 BCE

Sugar processing

Sugar cane originated in New Guinea around 6000 BC. It spread to Southeast Asia and India around 1000 BCE, the production of sugar by boiling the cane juice was first discovered in India.

Coffee

Coffee beans were roasted and brewed around A.D. 1000.

1000
See also:
First Trees
First Plants
History of plant taxonomy
Classification