Agricultural Origins and Diffusions - AP Human Geography
- What is the primary goal of sustainable agriculture?
- To meet current food needs without compromising future generations. Balances environmental protection with economic viability for long-term success.
- Identify the primary factor behind the shift to industrial agriculture.
- Technological advancements. Mechanization and scientific methods replaced traditional farming practices.
- What is an example of a perennial crop?
- Apple trees. Lives for multiple years, providing ongoing harvests without replanting.
- Name a key crop domesticated in Mesoamerica.
- Maize (corn). Became a staple crop that supported large populations in the Americas.
- State the primary agricultural technique in shifting cultivation.
- Slash-and-burn agriculture. Involves clearing forest, farming briefly, then moving to allow regeneration.
- What is the primary purpose of subsistence agriculture?
- To produce food primarily for the farmer's family. Focuses on survival rather than profit, common in developing regions.
- What is a 'cash crop'?
- A crop grown for sale rather than for the farmer's own use. Generates income rather than providing direct sustenance for farmers.
- What is the main crop associated with plantation agriculture?
- Cash crops like sugarcane, coffee, or cotton. Large-scale monoculture operations designed for export to global markets.
- Which revolution introduced high-yield crop varieties?
- The Green Revolution. Dramatically increased food production through improved seeds and technology.
- What is monoculture?
- The cultivation of a single crop in a given area. Increases efficiency but reduces biodiversity and resilience to disease.
- Which animal was first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent?
- Sheep. Provided wool, meat, and milk, making it valuable for early agricultural communities.
- Identify a characteristic of organic farming.
- No synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. Relies on natural processes and biodiversity to maintain soil health.
- What does the term 'agricultural diffusion' refer to?
- The spread of agricultural practices from one region to another. Occurs through migration, trade, and cultural exchange between societies.
- Identify a reason for the decline in small-scale farming.
- Increased competition from large agribusinesses. Economic pressures force many small farmers out of business.
- Identify the region where the Neolithic Revolution began.
- The Fertile Crescent. Located in modern-day Middle East, where agriculture first developed around 10,000 BCE.
- Which type of agriculture is most common in tropical rainforests?
- Shifting cultivation. Adapted to forest environments where permanent clearing is not sustainable.
- Name an environmental concern of intensive agriculture.
- Soil degradation. Results from overuse of chemical inputs and intensive cultivation methods.
- What agricultural practice is characterized by large-scale grain production?
- Commercial grain farming. Uses mechanization and large farms to produce grain for global markets.
- Identify a staple crop in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Sorghum. Drought-resistant grain adapted to semi-arid conditions of the region.
- What is an example of a genetically modified crop?
- Bt corn. Engineered to produce insecticide, reducing need for chemical pesticides.
- What is the main characteristic of dry farming?
- Relying on natural rainfall without irrigation. Practiced in regions with limited water resources and seasonal precipitation.
- Identify a major agricultural hearth in Asia.
- The Yangtze River Valley. One of several independent centers where agriculture developed around 9,000 years ago.
- What is the significance of the Neolithic Revolution?
- Transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture. Marked humanity's shift to settled life and food production around 10,000 years ago.
- Which crop is associated with the Columbian Exchange?
- Potato. Transformed European diets and agriculture after being brought from the Americas.
- What is a common characteristic of subsistence farming?
- Small-scale production. Typically involves family labor on plots smaller than 2 hectares.
- Which innovation is most associated with the Second Agricultural Revolution?
- The seed drill. Allowed precise seed placement, improving efficiency and crop yields.
- Identify a major crop of Mediterranean agriculture.
- Olives. Adapted to hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters of Mediterranean climate.
- Identify a characteristic of intensive subsistence farming.
- High labor input per unit of land. Maximizes production from small plots through careful cultivation techniques.
- Where did the Green Revolution primarily take place?
- Developing countries, notably India and Mexico. Targeted regions with food security issues and potential for increased yields.
- Identify a primary crop of the Green Revolution.
- Wheat. High-yield varieties dramatically increased food production in developing countries.
- What is the primary use of agribusiness?
- Commercial agriculture involving large-scale operations and corporations. Integrates farming with business practices to maximize efficiency and profit.
- What is the definition of agriculture?
- The cultivation of crops and the raising of livestock for sustenance or economic gain. Forms the foundation of human civilization by providing food security.
- What is vegetative planting?
- Reproduction of plants by direct cloning from existing plants. Used for crops like bananas and potatoes that don't reproduce well from seeds.
- What practice is characterized by rotating crops to restore soil nutrients?
- Crop rotation. Different crops use different nutrients, preventing soil depletion.
- What is terrace farming?
- Farming on stepped levels built into the sides of hills. Prevents erosion on steep slopes while maximizing cultivable land area.
- Identify a region where wet rice is predominant.
- Southeast Asia. Climate and terrain ideal for intensive rice cultivation using flooding methods.
- What is pastoral nomadism?
- A form of subsistence agriculture based on herding domesticated animals. Mobile lifestyle follows seasonal patterns to find pasture for livestock.
- What is transhumance?
- Seasonal migration of livestock between mountains and lowland pastures. Maximizes pasture use by following seasonal precipitation and temperature patterns.
- Name an effect of the Columbian Exchange on Europe.
- Introduction of new crops like potatoes and maize. These crops provided new nutrition sources and increased agricultural diversity.