On Humans Encore | Why Agriculture? Climate Change and the Origins of Farming ~ Andrea Matranga
Aug 6, 2025
Andrea Matranga, an economic historian at the University of Torino, explores the intriguing connections between agriculture, climate change, and human history. He discusses the paradox of the Neolithic Revolution, where early farming led to harder lives for many. Delving into the crucial role of climate shifts, he explains why certain regions, like Sudan, didn’t adopt farming despite favorable conditions. Unexpectedly, this journey even ties back to the movements of Jupiter—a blend of history, environment, and celestial influences that reshapes our understanding of farming's origins.
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Agriculture Linked to Increased Seasonality
- Agriculture started not because it immediately improved life but because seasonality increased risks for hunter-gatherers.
- Settling down enabled food storage to manage scarcity, leading naturally into farming.
Climate Seasonality Triggers Farming
- The end of Ice Ages does not fully explain agriculture's origins because tropical regions were never icy.
- Climate seasonality, not just temperature, triggered sedentism and farming worldwide.
Food Storage Leads to Sedentism
- Sedentary hunter-gatherers stored seasonal food, smoothing consumption in harsh winters.
- Farming then emerged naturally from the necessity and opportunity to store food effectively.
