IP Blog

Location demonstrates the most essential proximate cause needed for the development and spread of food production. Those who adopted food production earliest became fortunate because of their location. Other secondary factors only proved significant when the location was favorable. For example, different technologies and appliances had to be developed to plant and harvest crops, but they were useless unless the environment was suitable for the crops to grow. Certain indigenous animals such as cattle and sheep provided fertilizer from which crops grew, but again these species were initially only present in certain areas. “ It should come as no surprise that food production never arose in large areas of the globe, for ecological reasons that still make it difficult or impossible there today” (Diamond 93). Areas such as North America’s arctic, and deserts remote from sources of water for irrigation, were unable to develop food production (Diamond 93). Even with modern technologies most of these locations remain uninhabitable and without food production today.

Only certain areas of the world could support the Mediterranean Climate that enabled the growth of diverse cereals and pulses. These crops proved to be most suitable for independent domestication. They grow fast, are high in carbohydrates, and have a large yield (Diamond 125). “As a result, cereals today account for over half of all calories consumed by humans and include five of the modern world’s 12 leading crops” (Diamond 125). Consequently, areas such as the Fertile Crescent, which was able to support the growth of cereals and pulses, thrived over those that could not. The majorities of these crops were self-pollinating, and required less work on the part of the farmers. Unlike strawberries and other crops, these cereals and pulses could be preserved and consumed at a later date. Additionally, these crops provided more nourishment and energy to food producers, which in turn, led to increased production and diffusion of the crop out of the region. Possessing these desirable crops enabled members of the Fertile Crescent to gain a head start over other peoples because of their location, and before other areas were able to develop food production independently, it was already reaching them by diffusion.

“Just as some regions proved much more suitable than others for the origins of food production, the ease of its spread also varied greatly around the world” (Diamond 177). Extremely isolated areas, such as Australia, were last in acquiring food production. Likewise, most of the denizens of arid and arctic environments remained hunter-gatherers until modern times. The success of the itinerary that the domesticables would follow again depended on location. Those inhabiting Eurasia enjoyed the benefits of a major east to west axis. The relatively static climate throughout Eurasia allowed for the easy diffusion of crops throughout the continent (Diamond 183). Conversely, the diffusion of crops from north to south or vice versa often ended in failure resulting from drastic climate change. It was then out of pure circumstance that those inhabiting locations that supported the diffusion of crops, permitted them to enjoy the many benefits of food production. 

Check out these cool PollDaddy Polls:

http://www.polldaddy.com/p.asp?p=24453
http://www.polldaddy.com/p.asp?p=24455
http://www.polldaddy.com/p.asp?p=24457
http://www.polldaddy.com/p.asp?p=24459
http://www.polldaddy.com/p.asp?p=24463