Comments on: When and where was rice domesticated? http://agro.biodiver.se/2009/03/when-and-where-was-rice-domesticated/ Crops, animals, wild relatives ... Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:34:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jacob http://agro.biodiver.se/2009/03/when-and-where-was-rice-domesticated/comment-page-1/#comment-732405 Jacob Sun, 22 Mar 2009 15:19:50 +0000 http://agro.biodiver.se/2009/03/when-and-where-was-rice-domesticated/#comment-732405 I have a small collection of deterministic theories involving crops, landscapes and technologies. I could do a whole series of posts on them. I have a small collection of deterministic theories involving crops, landscapes and technologies. I could do a whole series of posts on them.

]]> By: Jeremy http://agro.biodiver.se/2009/03/when-and-where-was-rice-domesticated/comment-page-1/#comment-732206 Jeremy Sun, 22 Mar 2009 11:34:03 +0000 http://agro.biodiver.se/2009/03/when-and-where-was-rice-domesticated/#comment-732206 <a href='#comment-732138' rel="nofollow">@Jacob</a> - Thanks for the suggestion Jacob. The idea, though, of viewing entire cultures and societies through the lens of their agriculture continues to exert a strong hold on people. Most recently, Malcolm Gladwell seems to be saying that Asian people value hard and continuous effort because that is what rice requires, while effete Westerners go for the all out effort of plough once and seed for wheat. And I wish I could locate my copies of Marvin Harris' "cultural materialism" books to remind myself of his views on rice and society. Not as gung-ho as Wittfogel, perhaps, but pretty interesting as I recall. @Jacob – Thanks for the suggestion Jacob. The idea, though, of viewing entire cultures and societies through the lens of their agriculture continues to exert a strong hold on people. Most recently, Malcolm Gladwell seems to be saying that Asian people value hard and continuous effort because that is what rice requires, while effete Westerners go for the all out effort of plough once and seed for wheat. And I wish I could locate my copies of Marvin Harris’ “cultural materialism” books to remind myself of his views on rice and society. Not as gung-ho as Wittfogel, perhaps, but pretty interesting as I recall.

]]> By: Jacob http://agro.biodiver.se/2009/03/when-and-where-was-rice-domesticated/comment-page-1/#comment-732151 Jacob Sun, 22 Mar 2009 10:43:35 +0000 http://agro.biodiver.se/2009/03/when-and-where-was-rice-domesticated/#comment-732151 Oh, and I am looking forward to your book! Oh, and I am looking forward to your book!

]]> By: Jacob http://agro.biodiver.se/2009/03/when-and-where-was-rice-domesticated/comment-page-1/#comment-732138 Jacob Sun, 22 Mar 2009 10:34:46 +0000 http://agro.biodiver.se/2009/03/when-and-where-was-rice-domesticated/#comment-732138 Wittfogel's thesis is not widely accepted anymore in historiography or anthropology. For a good book on rice, technology and social organization, read Francesca Bray's classic <i>The Rice Economies</i>, instead. Wittfogel’s thesis is not widely accepted anymore in historiography or anthropology. For a good book on rice, technology and social organization, read Francesca Bray’s classic The Rice Economies, instead.

]]> By: Ford http://agro.biodiver.se/2009/03/when-and-where-was-rice-domesticated/comment-page-1/#comment-729936 Ford Fri, 20 Mar 2009 23:46:49 +0000 http://agro.biodiver.se/2009/03/when-and-where-was-rice-domesticated/#comment-729936 Regarding "certain social changes", Wittfogel wrote a book on "Oriental Despotism" claiming an association between irrigation and tyranny. I haven' t read it. I'm going to have to ask for an extension on the April deadline for my book on Darwinian Agriculture. Regarding “certain social changes”, Wittfogel wrote a book on “Oriental Despotism” claiming an association between irrigation and tyranny. I haven’ t read it.

I’m going to have to ask for an extension on the April deadline for my book on Darwinian Agriculture.

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