Early Agriculture in Africa

17/10/2020

Early Agriculture in Africa

In Africa, agriculture first spread to Egypt along the Nile valley, where it was practiced as early as 700BC.

Factors that promoted (facilitated) agriculture in ancient Egypt

The river Nile, which provided the water needed for irrigation and for domestic use.
The fertile soil and the warm climate of the Nile Valley.
Invention and use of irrigation technique, characterised by Shadoof and Basin methods.
Availability of food crops that had already become indigenous to Egypt, e.g. wheat and barley
Availability of many tameable animals in Egypt e.g. goats and sheep
Good and able political leaders, who directed agricultural production, distribution of food and other crafts. The government owned huge granaries and godowns for storage of grain, animals, cloth and metals for use in times of scarcity
Natural protection of the Nile valley from foreign invasion by the Libyan desert to the west, the Nubian desert and the Nile cataracts to the south and the harbourless coast of the Nile delta on the north
Egypt's close proximity to Mesopotamia (the first centre of agricultural development), which encouraged a lot of borrowing
Use of implements like sticks, knives, axes, sickles, wooden and bronze hoes and others of their kind, which eased farming
Farmers had several seasons in a year and, because of irrigation, no longer depended on annual Nile Valley floods
Introduction and adoption of iron technology in Africa by 1000 AD, which enabled the Egyptians to make and use iron tools like ploughs, which made farming more efficient

Early Agriculture in Egypt

As early as 7000 BC, people had already settled in the Nile valley. By around 5000 BC, the Egyptians had gradually adopted agriculture, departing from a hunter-gatherer society.

Reasons that enhanced development of early Agriculture in Egypt

Availability of Water for irrigation and for domestic use from river Nile.
Existence of fertile silt deposits and mud originating from the flooding of the Nile between July and October annually, which provided fertile soil for crop farming.
Another advantage was that Egypt had a suitable warm climate for crop growing and ripening.
The Use of shadoof Irrigation technology ensured production of food during drought seasons
Presence of indigenous crops and animals from which domestication was made. Wheat and barley had already become indigenous to Egypt as were animals like sheep and goats.
Foreign influence from South West Asia where farming was first practiced. The proximity of Egypt to Mesopotamia, the first centre of agricultural development ensured that she borrowed heavily from there.
The Natural protection of the region from foreign attacks, since the Nile valley was protected by the Libyan Desert to the West, the Nubian Desert and Nile cataracts to the South and the Nile coast delta on the North.
Political stability.
High population created need for more food and provided farm labour.
Availability of slave labour made crop farming a success.
The invention and use of implements that included wooden sticks, knives and wooden hoes enabled the farmers to increase their yields.
The existence of writing in Egypt helped the Egyptians to keep accurate records of seasons and volume of food.

Describe farming activities in ancient Egypt

Africa

Various crops were grown, such as wheat, barley, fruits, flax, beans, vegetables, cucumbers, onions,, lentils, dates, figs and grapes
The Broadcasting method of planting (scattering seed on land) was used. Animals were driven over the fields to cover the seed in earth for germination or budding
Shifting cultivation was practised before the human population increased, but more settler cultivation was encouraged as days went by
Various animals were kept such as cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, donkeys,, poultry and bees
The King was regarded as the guardian for food supply for all. some senior government officers were assigned the responsibility of ensuring food security

Describe the irrigation methods practised in ancient Egypt

Irrigation technique in ancient Egypt was characterised by Shadoof and Basin methods in addition to construction of dykes to direct water to the farms during drought.

A Shadoof is a wooden device consisting of a long pole swinging up and down between two supporting wooden posts. On one end of the pole was hung a heavy weight and a skin bucket at the other.

The bucket was pulled down and dipped in water by a person. The weight on the other side would then cause the bucket to rise up to another person above, who would empty the water into the canals, which then directed it to the fields.

Describe two senior government officers that were assigned the responsibility of ensuring food security in ancient Egypt

The Master of Largesse was responsible for all livestock in the country
The head of the exchequer ensured distribution of seeds and livestock when agricultural output was poor

Explain the impact of early agriculture in Egypt.

Improved farming, leading to increased and regular food supply.
Rise in population due to healthy feeding.
Development of writing, arithmetic and Geometry for keeping records and accounts to manage agricultural resources.
Invention of irrigation technique, which made the Nile valley an all-season farming area.
Emergence of urban centres along the Nile valley, such as Memphis, Akataten, Thebes and Aswan.
Invention of farming implements such as the plough, sickle, etc.
Development of Astronomy and other sciences, as a way of predicting floods.
Development of religion, for divine protection of the farms.
Emergence of a new class of people, constituted by priests and soldiers, which produced scribes and other Egyptian elites.
Specialization of some people in non-food producing activities e.g. tool making, crafts and geometry.
Increased trading activities due to surplus food production.
Permanent settlement by farmers, which improved living standards as settled communities accumulated more property than nomads

The shadoof irrigation

This was the method of irrigation used in Egypt during the drought season when the river was not flooding.

A shadoof is a wooden device for lifting water from a river into the canals. It consisted of a long pole swinging up and down between two supporting wooden posts.

One end has a weight hanging on the pole while the other end has a skin bucket. The bucket is pulled down and dipped into the water by a person.

It is caused to rise by the weight, once water has been filled. The other person empties the water into the canal to be drained into the fields.

The Egyptians used farm implements like sticks, knives, axes, sickles and hoes

Among the crops planted in Egypt included wheat, barley, fruits, flax, beans, vegetables, cucumbers, onions, lentils, dates, figs and grapes. They used the broadcasting method. Shifting cultivation was also practiced before human population increased.
They kept animals like sheep, goat, pigs, donkey, cattle and poultry.
The state directed production. It controlled distribution of harvests as well as handicrafts. Government owned huge granaries and godowns which were used to store food.
The king was regarded as the guardian who presided over food supply for all. The master of largesse was responsible for all the livestock in the country
In the year when agricultural production was poor, the head of the exchequer would take care of the distribution of seeds and livestock.

Early Agriculture in Sub Saharan Africa

Identify the crops cultivated in sub-Saharan Africa

Millet,
Sorghum,
Eleusine,
Semeseme,
African rice,
Yams,
Ensete,
Barley,
Chick peas,
Varieties of fruits,
Varieties of vegetables

Name the animals domesticated in sub-Saharan Africa

Cattle,
Goats,
Sheep
Camels

Discuss early farming activities in sub-Saharan Africa

In West Africa, domestic animals and serial agriculture were acquired from the then fertile and green Sahara by 1500 BC. African rice, which was first cultivated in the Middle Niger lake region, was among the crops grown. Yams may have been grown earlier than any other crops.
In North Africa, Ensete, barley, chick peas and cattle were cultivated and domesticated, particularly in the Lalibea area to the east of Lake Tana in Ethiopia. Other plants were brought to Ethiopia from the middle East across the Red Sea.
In east Africa, especially at the Ileret area on the north-eastern shores of lake Turkana, in Kenya, cattle, goats, sheep and camels among others were kept between 3000-1000 BC. Food production was most practised in southern Kenya and northern Tanzania.
In the Congo basin, food production started late, around 1000 BC, probably because the region had low population and plenty of wild food varieties.
Some crops cultivated in sub-Saharan Africa spread to the Middle East. For instance, semeseme reached Mesopotamia from the southern fringe of the Sahara before 2350 BC. Much of southern Kenya and Northern Tanzania were in the past inhabited by Cushitic herdsmen, who may have had agricultural knowledge. The regions are now inhabited by Nilotic and Bantu speakers

REVISION QUESTIONS

Explain six factors which have led to inadequate food supply in Africa.
State three factors which contributed to the development of agriculture in ancient Egypt.
Identify two factors which favoured the development of crop growing in ancient Egypt.
Identify two similarities between early agriculture in Mesopotamia and Egypt.
Give the main reason why early agriculture developed in Egypt.
Explain five causes of food shortages to Africa today.
Identify the writing system adopted by the ancient Egypt to keep farm records
Explain six effects of early agriculture in Egypt
State five factors for early agriculture in Egypt.
Two methods of irrigation used by the early Egyptian farmers
Mention two factors behind the success of early agriculture in Egypt.
Explain FIVE consequences of the development of early Agriculture in Egypt.

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