The Late Agricultural Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, and Beyond 1700 to 2000

1700s – 1800s animal powered farming is the norm.

Over time tools that had been human powered were modified for use with animal power.

Animal power and simple machinery were used for preparing the fields, planting and harvesting. Farming is still very labor intensive. (requires many people)

Over time the machinery became more complex, but was still animal powered. (fewer people required) Horse Powered Thresher

Animal powered transportation was widely used in the 1700s and 1800s.

Donkey powered MillIn many developing nations today animal power is still widely used for farming and transportation.

Steam Powered Farm Equipment The Industrial Revolution began in the late 1700’s in Europe and gradually spread to North America by the 1800s. Machinery was first used in factories and was powered first by water, then steam, then coal. Mass production greatly reduced the need for human labor. Eventually, by the early 1900s machinery began replacing human and animal powered farming methods.

Steam Powered Farm Equipment These advances in machinery greatly reduced the need for human labor in farming.

Industrial Revolution led to growth of cities (late 1800s Chicago)

Motorized forms of transportation such as trains, steamships, and automobiles in the early 1900s further changed our way of life.

Modern farm equipment has continued to evolve and improve, making farming more efficient and productive…

…and less labor intensive.

The Green Revolution Mid 1900s The Green Revolution spread technologies that already existed, but had not been widely used outside of industrialized nations.

New Methods to improve crops: Pesticides, Crop Dusting & Synthetic Fertilizers

Improved Crop Varieties

Modern Irrigation

Sources Washington State University—World Civilizations: Agricultural Revolution Student Module modules/top_agrev/agrev-index.html modules/top_agrev/agrev-index.html alleys/TIGRIS.jpghttp://landmarkhs.org/news/archives/socialstudies/riverv alleys/TIGRIS.jpg ure_468.htmlhttp:// ure_468.html &rendTypeId=4