Page 13 - Inventions - A Visual Encyclopedia (DK - Smithsonian)

Pulled by animals, often in pairs, PERSIAN QANAT
the plow could quickly slice
through hard soil.
Water is essential to farming. In dry regions, some kind of system
is needed to bring water to agricultural areas. In the early first
millennium, the Persians did this by building underground canals.
Called qanats, these canals sloped gently, helping gravity move
the water. A qanat was usually around 3 miles (5 km) long, but
Model of a some measured more than 40 miles (65 km).
Sumerian plow
Shaft is used for
PLOW maintenance. Watered area
The plow was developed in East Asia Qanat carries water
by 5000 bce. It was a blade attached to a for distribution.
wooden frame that prepared soil by cutting EARLY BREAKTHROUGHS
through the top layer, which brought nutrients
to the surface. Plowing created trenches, This well is the main
called furrows, where seeds were planted. source of water.
Qanat outlet

▼ SOIL PREPARATION Clay model of a granary,
Farm implements, including the harrow, China, c. 150 bce
were usually hitched to oxen, like this one,
or horses. Such animals were domesticated to
help with farmwork and were used for food.

Storing grain
above ground
level helps to keep
it dry and at the
right temperature.

Second level
could be reached
by a staircase.

GRANARY
In around 9000 bce, the first grain stores,
or granaries, were built in what is modern-
day Jordan. These buildings were designed
to store dry grain and other crops, such as
rice, so they wouldn’t spoil. People needed
places to store crops that they didn’t want
to eat or sell right away.
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