The Development of Agriculture

Agriculture began in the area known as the Fertile Crescent. The area is a hot, dry desert. But it has two of the requirements for farming: good soil and a water supply. Many early farmers used the Nile River as a water supply. The Nile River floods at the same time every year. Farmers planted crops before the floods. This helped their plants to survive in the desert. Later, farmers created irrigation ditches. They moved water from the Nile River to their fields. They could cultivate crops any time of the year and harvest extra food.   

Producing extra food was important. Later, farmers fed animals with it. These domesticated animals became another important part of agriculture.

agriculture = growing plants and raising animals 

produce = to make something 

crop = a large group of cultivated plants 

domesticate = to tame an animal 

cultivate = to raise a crop from seeding to harvest 

plant = to put seeds in soil 

harvest = gather crops. 

irrigation ditches = canal which transports water to a field 

water supply = system of water delivery