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Second Agricultural Revolution

Definition

The Second Agricultural Revolution was a period of technological improvement and increased crop productivity that occurred during the 18th and early 19th centuries in Europe.

Analogy

Think of the Second Agricultural Revolution like upgrading from an old flip phone to a smartphone. Just as smartphones introduced new features like internet access, GPS, and apps, the Second Agricultural Revolution introduced new farming techniques and machinery that greatly improved agricultural productivity.

Related terms

Crop Rotation: This is a method where different types of crops are planted in the same area over sequential seasons to improve soil fertility and crop yield.

Selective Breeding: This is a process used by farmers and breeders to intentionally develop particular phenotypic traits by choosing which typically animal or plant males and females will sexually reproduce and have offspring together.

Mechanization: This refers to the use of machines to take over some of the tasks previously done by humans or animals (like horses). It's one of the key elements that made this revolution possible.