Issar, Arie and Ofer Bar-Yosef use various approaches in studying the development of agriculture in the ancient days. The two authors have both similar and contrasting ideologies in regards to the early farming and domestication of agriculture by humans. Development of agriculture is attributed to an array of reasons that vary from one scholar two the other. However, there are a quite number of similarities that elicits in studies that are dedicated towards agriculture domestication. The most significant notion is that both Issar and Bar-Yosef attribute domestication of agriculture to the changes in climate patterns over the years. Similarly, they focus on the Asian continent especially the Middle East. Issar concentrates much on the Middle East as he asserts that agriculture begun in the Mediterranean region between river Tigris and Euphrates (Issar and Zohar 54). Bar-Yosef also believes that the earliest manifestation of the socio-economic revolution occurred in West and East Asia and it was influenced by the impact of Young Dryas (YD). However, Bar-Yosef concentrates on Levante and China while Issar researches about Middle East. It is quite evident that early agriculture was recorded in the Asian region; hence, the region has rich history concerning developing of agriculture.
Significantly, the authors of the two articles refer to the Neolithic era in regard to domestication of agriculture. This signifies that agriculture emerged during this era. According to Issar and Zohar, agriculture was evident after the end of the last ice age although it was not a predominant activity (53). Bar-Yosef asserts that in spite of the lack of documented history during the Neolithic revolution, it is evident that several socioeconomic changes were experienced during this era (2). These socioeconomic activities include agriculture and perennial settlements. Climate change plays a big role in defining the research by the authors of these two articles. The rise of alternating weather patterns that incorporated cold climatic and warm climatic episodes influenced how people lived (3). Bar-Yosef indicates that lack of summer rains resulted to droughts and dry seasons. During this time, it was hard to find food by gathering and animals and lakes were also dying leading to a decline to hunting activities. The same notion is repeated by Issar and Zohar as they say the chilly season harbored people’s mobility. As a result, they decided to seek permanent shelters limiting their hunting and gathering activities since they could not move much. That is when they decided to look for an alternative and agriculture immersed.
The articles still have differences and contradiction; for example, Bar-Yosef concentrates on theoretical approach in his research while Issar and Zohar prefer both qualitative and quantitative approach. This is an important factor because comparing the two articles will enable the researcher to extract important and effective information. Issar and Zohar use the neo-deterministic model to develop the research’s anthropogenic hypothesis (59). Quantitive study incorporates empirical evidence while the qualitative research employs conceptual approach that triggers critical thinking while researching. On the other hand, Bar-Yosef uses the Levantine model within the context of mosaic ecology to unearth the research findings. The article by Bar-Yosef also mentions other socioeconomic factors as the causes to development of agriculture. It talks of demographic pressure and cultural hostilities as some of the reasons that made humans domesticate agriculture. Issar and Zohar concentrates on climate changes as the sole reason that led to the origin of agriculture. As deciphered from the two articles, climate changes played a huge role in influencing people to start farming. The Mediterranean area is a good region to base my study on because these two sources concentrate on the Asian region. Therefore, Issar’s and Bar-Yosef articles will be resourceful to my research.
Works cited
Bar-Yosef, Ofer. (2011). Climatic Fluctuations and Early Farming in West and East Asia. Current Anthropology: The Origins of Agriculture: New Data, New Ideas 52(S4):S175-S193.
Issar, Arie S., and Mattanyah Zohar. (2007). Climate Change-: Environment and History of the Near East. Springer,
