Embedded Files
Anthropologists estimate that the carrying capacity of the planet without agriculture was around 10 million people, and this population was reached around 10,000 years ago.
Farming probably involved more work than hunting and gathering, but it is thought to have provided 10 to 100 times more calories per acre. More abundant food supplies could support denser populations, and farming tied people to their land.
The Agricultural Revolution, which began around 10,000 B.C. , had a significant impact on human carrying capacity. It led to a demographic transition and a major increase in population. The carrying capacity of the land was the main factor limiting the growth of hunter-gatherer populations.Â
An acre of corn produces 12 million calories, enough to feed 20 people for a year.
Crash Course Geography PlayList
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8dPuuaLjXtO85Sl24rSiVQ93q7vcntNF
Farming
About 10,000 years ago, we developed the ability to grow our own food. Farming increased the yield of food plants and allowed people to have food available year round. Animals were domesticated to provide meat. With agriculture, people could settle down, so that they no longer needed to carry all their possessions (Figurebelow). They could develop better farming practices and store food for when it was difficult to grow. Agriculture allowed people to settle in towns and cities.
Carrying Capacity: The maximum population size that a particular environment can sustainably support without causing long-term degradation of the ecosystem.
Sustainability: The practice of using resources and managing ecosystems in a way that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
Ecological Footprint: A measure of the environmental impact of an individual, organization, or society, indicating the amount of natural resources and ecosystem services required to support their lifestyle or activities.
Overpopulation: A situation in which the human population exceeds the Earth's carrying capacity, leading to resource depletion, environmental degradation, and other sustainability challenges.
Resource Depletion: The exhaustion or overuse of natural resources, such as water, fossil fuels, or minerals, at a rate faster than they can be replenished.
Regenerative Agriculture: Farming practices that aim to restore and enhance soil health, biodiversity, and ecosystem resilience while producing food sustainably.
Ecological Resilience: The capacity of an ecosystem to withstand disturbances and maintain its functions and biodiversity, contributing to long-term sustainability.
Page updated
Report abuse