Doc Recap: Prime Minister Mendizabal's Decree of Disentailment of Regular Clergy

In 1836, then Spanish Prime Minister Juan Alvarez Mendizabal unleashed his decree that targeted the privatization of lands owned by religious orders with the aim of winning the ongoing Carlist War and improving agricultural production as well as overall economic situation.

8 Things to Know About Chinampas

The chinampas brings out captivation and the poster child for Aztec "ingenuity". Here are 8 things to know about this agricultural and engineering marvel:

1st drawing of maize to be seen in Europe

Feeding the Aztec Empire - the Chinampas

An ingenuity born out of resourcefulness of the Mesoamericans. The Chinampas sustained Mesoamericans for centuries even before the Aztecs rose to power. Its concept inspired solutions in answering today’s problems.

Cyrus McCormick: Inventor, Businessman

Cyrus McCormick

When a country becomes industrialized, there is a tendency that the population will grow. That happened to many countries. The United States, during the Gilded Age, underwent rapid industrialization. High population is not much of a problem as long as food production could keep up. The US managed to do it with the mechanization of agriculture. Among the forerunners in mechanization Cyrus McCormick. 

Medieval Age Developments in Agriculture

The backbone of the Medieval Europe’s economy was agriculture. Most of the Europeans were farmers. Feudalism was based on land as property used for farming in order to sustain the needs of the nobles and the serfs themselves. The Medieval Ages was sometimes dubbed as the Dark Ages, which was in reality not true. Innovations continued to be made during this period.

Prohibition, Roman Style: Domitian's Ban of Vineyards

The Triumph of Titus by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema.
Emperor Vespasian in the front, followed by Domitian
and his wife, then Titus at the back.

The Roman Empire dominated western civilization for centuries. At its height, during the period known as Pax Romana, its legions marched across the European continent to the reaches of modern day Spain in the west, Asia Minor and the Middle East in the East, to modern day Britain in the north, and crossing the Mediterranean Sea to the whole North Africa in the south. Its dominion controlled the whole Mediterranean basin for hundreds of years. With wealth and power, essentials became cheap and luxury goods became affordable. Among this luxury was wine.

Sukhothai Economy of Ramkhamhaeng

King Ramkhamhaeng (Credit: Ananda)

Thailand, an oriental country in the heart of Southeast Asia. Its lands are gifted with numerous rivers that provided fertile plains for farming. Its culture is heavily influenced by the Indians from the west. During the 13th century no Thai kingdom existed until the Kingdom of Sukhothai rose from the lands conquered by the Khmers. One of the most economically prosperous period of this kingdom was under the reign of King Ramkhamhaeng. His reign saw great flow of harvest and wealth. Trade flourish without barriers. An economy that flowered during the golden age of a Thai Kingdom.

Household Responsibility System: Changing the Face of Rural China

Deng Xiaoping

A nation mourned the death of its leader, Mao Zedong, and later would begin the revitalization of its agriculture. During the time of Mao, China’s farmers faced restructuring and famine. But upon the death of founder of the PRC, a new leader rose. A more practical and more pragmatic, Deng Xiaoping would fix the problems left by the previous regime. Among his priorities was fixing the livelihood of the many peasants in the Chinese countryside. His answer for lack of unproductivity and inefficiency was the Household Responsibility System.

Economy of the Gupta Empire

Chandragupta II

India occupies a large area of Asia. It is characterized as a sub-continent for its large territory. Alongside of its vast and wide ranging terrain it was gifted with many rivers that made its soil fertile for various wide of crops. It allowed subsistence and even wealth to its farmers. It allowed wide ranging of economic activities which had and would sustain various empires in history.  The most famous of these empires was the Mughal Empire that reign through the 16th to the 19th century. But even before back there were other powerful empires that had capitalized on the natural wealth of India. One such empire was the Gupta Empire.

Agriculture of Mughal Empire

Babur

The Taj Mahal, symbol of the wealth and affluence of the Mughal Empire. Built by many workers for many years. Workers are fed from the bountiful harvests of the Mughal peasants. Money to build the lavish tomb came from the exports of several cash crops. The agriculture of the Mughal Empire played a huge role in the sustenance and territorial integrity of the Empire. It fed and it gave wealth to the Emperors in the peacock throne.