Factors Affecting Agriculture: Physical, Human, and Economic Aspects
Factors Determining Agricultural Use
Agriculture is affected by physical and human factors. Physical factors can favor, hinder, or even prevent agricultural use, but they remain critical even in highly technified societies.
Physical Factors
Three main physical factors influence agriculture:
- Weather: Plants struggle in extreme temperatures or with excessive/scarce rainfall.
- Relief: Altitude and terrain slope impact agricultural activity. Slopes exceeding 10 degrees are generally unsuitable, although terracing
First Industrial Revolution: Origins, Impacts, and Social Changes
First Industrial Revolution
Until the late eighteenth century, Europe’s economy was based almost exclusively on agriculture and trade. Industrial products were handicrafts, made in private homes. In an artisanal economy, merchants gave wool to families for spinning and weaving, receiving the finished product in exchange for payment. This production form changed significantly between the late eighteenth and mid-nineteenth centuries, beginning in England. Several conditions enabled England to transform
Read MoreSocial Classes & Industrial Revolution Impacts
Lower Social Classes: Workers and Peasants
Distinction is made between agriculture (peasants) and industrial workers. Both groups make up the proletariat, living in precarious situations. Field workers produce food, the base of wealth produced by the industrial proletariat. Workers generally endure workdays up to 16 hours in exchange for meager wages and undignified living conditions. They live threatened by lack of protection against illness or unemployment, conditions that can condemn them to poverty
Read MoreRaw Materials, Energy Sources, and Industrial Landscapes
Item 6: Raw Materials
Raw materials can be organic or mineral.
The raw materials come from organic life forms.
The mineral raw materials come from the earth’s crust and can be metals, nonmetals, and mineral energetics.
The production of raw materials on Earth is concentrated in the countries of Latin America, Africa, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia, which are major world exporters.
Sources of Energy
Energy sources are natural resources that provide the industry with the power needed to transform raw
Read MoreAgriculture, Fishing, and Industry: A Comprehensive Overview
Extensive Agriculture
Not all arable land is cultivated each year; some land is left fallow to rest. Extensive agriculture is characterized by low productivity and the inability to cultivate the entire area every year, resulting in low yields and work concentrated in part of the year. High-productivity extensive agriculture requires cultivating all the land to produce sufficient yields.
Intensive Agriculture
Intensive agriculture aims for the highest possible yields but requires significant effort.
Read MoreCatalonia: Agriculture, Industry, and Services
Catalonia’s Economy
Agriculture in Catalonia
Agriculture in Catalonia is characterized by small holdings, high mechanization, and diverse crops.
Agroindustrial Complexes
Agroindustrial complexes process agricultural and livestock products, primarily:
- Pork, chicken, and sausage production
- Wine and champagne production (exported to Europe and America)
- Cork production
Recent Evolution: Increased productivity has caused rural depopulation, farm abandonment, and an aging population.