Theories about the Commencement of Agriculture in Prehistoric Societies: A Critical Evaluation

Serge Svizzero and Clement Tisdell

No 183284, Economic Theory, Applications and Issues Working Papers from University of Queensland, School of Economics

Abstract: The commencement of agriculture in the Holocene era is usually seen as heralding the beginning of a chain of events that eventually resulted in the Industrial Revolution and in modern economic development. The purpose of this paper is to outline and critically review theories about why and how agriculture first began. It also classifies these theories according to whether they are based on agriculture’s development as a response to food deprivation, to a food surplus, or neither of these factors. Because agriculture began independently in several different geographical centres, it seems unlikely that the switch of early societies from hunting and gathering to agriculture was the result of the same cause in all of these locations. Moreover, the paper provides some new suggestions as to why hunters and gatherers were motivated to commence or increase their dependence on agriculture in some locations. Views about the role of natural resources and institutions in the development of agriculture are also discussed.

Keywords: Community/Rural/Urban Development; Crop Production/Industries; Land Economics/Use; Research and Development/Tech Change/Emerging Technologies (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 28
Date: 2014-08-30
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-evo, nep-gro, nep-his and nep-hpe
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (17)

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Related works:
Journal Article: Theories About the Commencement of Agriculture in Prehistoric Societies: A Critical Evaluation (2014)
Working Paper: Theories about the commencement of agriculture in prehistoric societies: A critical evaluation (2014)
Working Paper: Theories about the Commencement of Agriculture in Prehistoric Societies: A Critical Evaluation (2014)
Working Paper: Theories about the Commencement of Agriculture in Prehistoric Societies: A Critical Evaluation (2014)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ags:uqseet:183284

DOI: 10.22004/ag.econ.183284

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