Arab Agricultural Revolution

The Arab Agricultural Revolution was the transformation in agriculture in the Old World during the Islamic Golden Age (8th to 13th centuries). The agronomic literature of the time, with major books by Ibn Bassal and Abū l-Khayr al-Ishbīlī, demonstrates the extensive diffusion of useful plants to Medieval Spain (al-Andalus), and the growth in Islamic scientific knowledge of agriculture and horticulture. Medieval Arab historians and geographers described al-Andalus as a fertile and prosperous region with abundant water, full of fruit from trees such as the olive and pomegranate. Archaeological evidence demonstrates improvements in animal husbandry and in irrigation such as with the saqiyah waterwheel. These changes made agriculture far more productive, supporting population growth, urbanisation, and increased stratification of society.

The revolution was first described by the historian Antonio Garcia Maceira in 1876.^[1] The name^[a] was coined by the historian Andrew Watson in an influential^[6]^[8] but at the time controversial 1974 paper. However, by 2014 it had proven useful to historians, and had been supported by findings in archaeology and archaeobotany.^[8]

^ Ruggles 2000, pp. 31–32.
^ Watson 1974, pp. 8–35.
^ Watson 1981.
^ Glick 1977, pp. 644–650.
^ Idrisi 2005.
^ ^a ^b Decker 2009.
^ Burke 2009, p. 174.
^ ^a ^b Squatriti 2014, pp. 1205–1220.

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[FOOTNOTERuggles200031–32-1] Ruggles 2000, pp. 31–32.

[FOOTNOTEWatson19748–35-2] Watson 1974, pp. 8–35.

[FOOTNOTEWatson1981-3] Watson 1981.

[FOOTNOTEGlick1977644–650-4] Glick 1977, pp. 644–650.

[FOOTNOTEIdrisi2005-5] Idrisi 2005.

[FOOTNOTEDecker2009-6] Decker 2009.

[FOOTNOTEBurke2009174-7] Burke 2009, p. 174.

[FOOTNOTESquatriti20141205–1220-9] Squatriti 2014, pp. 1205–1220.

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