Summary of Modifying Biomes

Here are the key points about how humans changed the environment to grow food:

Early Hunting and Gathering

• A long time ago, people hunted animals and gathered plants for food.
• About 4,000 years ago, people started farming instead of just gathering food.

The Agricultural Revolution

• Farming began in a place called the Fertile Crescent, near the Tigris and Euphrates rivers.
• Seasonal rains helped make the land good for growing plants.

Adapting to the Environment

• People changed their farming methods based on where they lived.
• Nomadic herders moved their animals to find fresh grass and water.
  • The Sami herded reindeer in the tundra.
  • The Bedouins herded sheep and goats in the desert.

Different Farming Methods

• In tropical forests, communities practiced shifting cultivation or slash-and-burn farming to grow food on new land when the soil became weak.
• As cities grew in Europe, forests were cut down to make space for farms and homes.

Technological Advances

• In the 1700s and 1800s, better tools and machines made farming easier.
• Farmers learned more about soil nutrients, which helped them grow more food for growing cities.

Changes in Crop Variety

• Many types of crops have disappeared; now 75% of our food comes from just 12 plants and 5 animals.
• People focus more on how food looks rather than how many kinds there are.

New Technologies

• Glasshouses, hydroponics, and other technologies help farmers grow food in new places.
• Better transportation helps send food from farms to markets more quickly.

Environmental Impact

• While farming has improved life for many, about 20% of the world's plant species are in danger of disappearing.

These points show how humans have changed the world to find food and how that can affect nature!