农业的起源、传播与影响

The origin, spread, and impact of agriculture

农业是文明形成和发展的基础。约1万年以前,农业在西亚、中美洲和东亚地区几乎同时独立出现。西亚的两河流域被认为是小麦、大麦、燕麦等作物的起源中心;中美洲则是玉米、马铃薯和花生等农作物的诞生地;中国拥有两套独立的原始农业系统,分别是起源于长江中下游地区的稻作农业和黄河中游地区的粟-黍旱作农业,孕育了中华农耕文明。西亚的小麦农业、东亚的稻作和粟-黍农业逐步传播到世界上大多数地区,促进了早期农业全球化。15世纪末,新航路的开辟和众多贸易路线的出现加快了欧亚大陆和美洲大陆农作物的传播和融合,加速了农业全球化进程。农业的发展改变了人类改造和适应环境的能力;促进了人类定居,导致人群结构的重大变革,出现劳动分工和商品交换等,为人类提供了稳定的食物供应及储存,推动了人口的增长。农业起源和发展极大地增强了人类活动的强度和范围,深刻地影响着全球生态和气候环境。

The origins of agriculture is one of the most significant events in human prehistory and the foundation of ancient cultures. At 10000 BP, agriculture emerged almost independently in western and eastern Asia and Central America at the same time. Mesopotamia in western Asia was thought to be the origin of wheat, barley and oats, while corn, potato, peanuts, etc. were firstly cultivated in Central America. China was featured by two independent agricultural systems,namely rice in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River and millet in the Yellow River Basin. During the process of early crop development, agriculture spread widely from its origin centers to most parts of the world, building an important bridge for cultural exchange and integration in the Eurasia. After Columbus discovered the Americas at the end of the 15th century, the opening of new shipping routes and emergence of numerous trade routes accelerated the spread and integration of crops in the New and Old worlds. The origin of agriculture has changed the ability of human beings to transform or adapt to our environment, and has made an significant impact on human society and the natural environment. Agriculture not only promoted the emergence of a settled lifestyle, but also led to major changes in population structure, division of labor and commodity exchanges. Agriculture improved production efficiency, provided a stable food supply and storage, and increased the intensity and scope of human activities, largely impacting the global ecology and natural environment.