Example research essay topic: Agricultural Revolution Agricultural Production - 1,499 words

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World Civilization: The Agricultural Revolution and the Greek Polis The agricultural Revolution The agricultural revolution is sometimes referred to as the dawn of civilization because of it changed the way of life of the community. With the invention of the plow, large volume of agricultural production became a possibility and spawn communities based on agriculture (The Agricultural Revolution 1). The term agricultural revolution is somehow not clear, as there are numerous agricultural revolutions around the world (Agricultural revolution 1). Some scholars even argue that the agricultural revolution took place in a gradual manner (The Agricultural Revolution, 2003, 1). However, the term is most widely used to refer the two distinct revolutions that took place in America and in Britain. In America, it pertains to the development of communities based on agriculture during the Neolithic period, While in Britain; it refers to the profound increased in agricultural production which happens just before the onset of the Industrial Revolution (Agricultural Revolution 1).

The agricultural revolution led the farmers to use the Norfolk Crop rotation system by the early nineteenth century. The Norfolk Crop rotation system enables the farmer to make use of all part of the land leaving no portion of it uncultivated. A piece of land is usually divided into four divisions and the crops grown on each field were rotated in order for the several nutrients are taken from the different portion of the land. In the first year turnips or another root crop would be grown; in the second year barley was grown in the field (barley could be sold at a profit); in the third year clover or a grass crop was grown and in the fourth year wheat was grown in the field (wheat could also be sold for a profit) (The Agricultural Revolution, 2003, 1). Eventually, the use of Norfolk Crop rotation system and the further trend in land enclosure have a profound effect on agriculture. The first effect was the increased in agricultural production.

In 1705, England exported 11. 5 million quarters of wheat. By 1765, wheat export had risen to 95 million quarters. The other impact was on the livestock production. During this period, livestock are no longer killed before the winter comes and the volume and quality of the livestock produce significantly improved (The four field system 1). As population increased, so as the need for food, therefore new machines are needed to increase agricultural production. On of these new equipments are the seed drill and the threshing machine (The Agricultural Revolution, 2003, 1).

Before the onset of agricultural revolution, farmers planted the seeds for cereal crops by carrying the seeds in a bag and walking up and down the field throwing or broadcasting the seed. They broadcast the seed by hand on to the ploughed and harrowed ground. This method was not practical and cause many wasted seeds. But with the invention of the seed drill, a wheel-driven ratchet is instead use to spread seed evenly on all over the land (The seed drill 1). The invention of the seed drill as well as the threshing machine enabled the production of large volume of crops needed for the increasing population (The Agricultural Revolution, 2003, 1). The agricultural revolution not only impacted the manner of crop production but also livestock production.

Before the agricultural revolution, livestock were killed before the onset of the winter season since there will be no food the feed them. The new system provided the needed food for the livestock even during the winter months which eventually increased the number of livestock whose manure were then used as fertilizers for the crops (Improvements in Farming in the 18 th century 1). However, one disadvantage that the agricultural revolution brought about was that the elite gained control of surplus resources and defended their position with arms. This concentration of authority and possessions finally led to the growth of the state as the wealthy developed the institution of the state to further increased their profits (The Agricultural Revolution 1). The Greek polis The Greeks, unlike the other civilization, use their experience in poverty to make it a contributing factor to the development of their culture and political system.

Without a clear difference between the wealthy and the masses, kings and priests are unable to rise to power and prominence. Additionally, the unfavorable land condition that the Greek occupies led them to migrate to the Aegean islands and the Asia Minors shorelines, where they created closely-knit communities. The Greeks' resemblance of way of life with the locals led to the development of the polis, or city-state (The Greek polis: overview 1). The Greek polis combined the ingredients of modern day city and present day democratic nation. The typical polis is made up of a comparatively self-effacing urban center which controlled the neighboring countryside, with its various towns and villages (Porter 1). The Greek polis was the centers of artistic, political, and commercial activity.

The Greek poles were also the place for propagating new beliefs which can be seen in todays world. In the city of Sparta, all properties were divided among its citizens, which is a replica of what know today as the system of Marxism. While Athens propagated the growth of democracy in which the definition of a citizen widened to include people from outside of the nobler classes, and government was made accessible to peasants as well as the wealthy (The Greek polis: overview 1). "The polis was a complex hierarchical society built around the notion of citizenship. It was made up of hundreds or even thousands of independent peasant households, which neither paid impersonal dues to a centralized government, nor depended on the state for the means of life... (Morris 26). Some modern day historians consider the characteristics of the early Greek polis culture as simply the consequence of economic factors.

However, its political cultures transformations are far more complicated process than simple economic explanations or materialist philosophy would allow. But the development of the Greek polis can not be known without the examinations of its demography, trade, and agricultural practices (Kierstead 1). The most major characteristics of a Greek polis are its seclusion and its ferocious independence. As distinct from the Romans, the Greeks never develop political alliances. Despite of having alliances in temporary way, none of the Greek polis ever expanded successfully beyond its own comparatively scanty boundaries for longer periods. As a consequence, smaller Greek poles were not able to stop the invasion of the Macedon and the Romans, which later led to end of the Greek as independent people (Porter 1).

The Greek polis, as a system of community, was eventually a failure. Scholars usually attribute this failure to the historical and geographical conditions under which the polis arose. Greece is a very rugged country of mountains (Porter 1). Additionally, the Greek polis had less flavorful characteristics. Its democracy was for all time pertinent to only a little portion of the population consisting of free, adult, male citizens. Traders form other countries were not allowed even the essential civil liberties.

For example, Foreigners were not allowed to own land and houses as well as any political involvement (The Greek polis: overview 1). Another failure of the Greek polis, in modern standard, is the use of slave labor, which the Greeks believe to be best suited for most work (The Greek polis: overview 1). Furthermore, men's capabilities to get involve in representative government were usually connected with the legal subjugation of wives. Greek women usually get married very young and often restricted to stay only in small and crowded houses with further restriction on education. Those who were educated were expected to use their knowledge in satisfying men (The Greek polis: overview 1). Works Cited Agricultural revolution. 08 Feb. 2006.

Wikimedia Foundation Inc. 18 Feb. 2006 http: //en. wikipedia. org / wiki /Agricultural revolution>. Improvements in Farming in the 18 th century. 08 Jan. 2006. Open Door website. 18 Feb. 2006 < web >. Kierstead, Ray. (n.

d. ). The Foundations of the Greek Polis: Political Culture 700 - 500. 18 Feb. 2006 < web >. Porter, John. 06 Dec. 2002. The Archaic Age and the Rise of the Polis. University of Saskatchewan. 18 Feb. 2006 < web > Morris, Ian Morris. The early polis as city and state.

City and Country in the Ancient World by John Rich and Andrew Wallace-Hadrill eds. , London, 1991, 26. The Agricultural Revolution. 1995. Idea Works, Inc. and Board of Curators, University of Missouri. 18 Feb. 2006 < web >. The Agricultural Revolution. 03 Nov. 2001. School history.

org. uk. 18 Feb. 2006 < web > The Four Field System. 08 Jan. 2006. Open Door website. 18 Feb. 2006 .

The Greek Polis: Overview. 2004. Pearson Prentice Hall, Pearson Education, Inc. 18 Feb. 2006 < web >. The Seed Drill. 08 Jan. 2006. Open Door website. 18 Feb. 2006
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Research essay sample on Agricultural Revolution Agricultural Production