How Ancient Barley and Wheat Fueled the Birth of Civilization
Approximately 12,000 years ago, the transition from a nomadic way of life to settled agriculture in the Fertile Crescent was largely influenced by emmer and einkorn wheat, along with barley. These crops became foundational to Neolithic economies, facilitating food surpluses that allowed for specialized jobs and the emergence of hierarchical societies. Political scientist James C. Scott pointed out that the characteristics of grains made them easily taxable and a favored form of currency. From Egypt to Mesopotamia, barley and wheat were integral to trade, with wealth managed by granaries and temples. The necessity to oversee grain transactions led to the development of writing systems, such as cuneiform in Mesopotamia and hieroglyphics in Egypt. Despite this, dependence on monoculture rendered civilizations vulnerable, contributing to the collapse of the Akkadian Empire during droughts. Ultimately, grains played a crucial role in societal recovery and prosperity.
Key facts
- Around 12,000 years ago, the Fertile Crescent saw a shift from hunting and gathering to agriculture.
- Emmer and einkorn wheat, along with barley, were foundational to the Neolithic Revolution.
- Grain surpluses freed labor for specialized professions, leading to hierarchical social structures.
- James C. Scott described grain as 'visible, divisible, assessable, storable, transportable, and rationable.'
- Barley and wheat were used as currency across the Fertile Crescent, from Egypt to Mesopotamia.
- Granaries and temples controlled wealth through grain storage and distribution.
- Writing developed from the need to administer grain transactions; cuneiform in Mesopotamia and hieroglyphics in Egypt emerged.
- Severe drought is thought to have contributed to the fall of the Akkadian Empire at the end of the 3rd millennium BC.
Entities
Locations
- Fertile Crescent
- Egypt
- Mesopotamia
- Ur