Posted by Chester Morton / Thursday, 18 October 2018 / No comments
The organization of agriculture within the ancient Berber civilization
Introduction
At the height of the ancient Berber civilization, one of the
factors which supported the survival of the kingdom was agriculture. The
ancient Berbers were engaged in various forms of agricultural activities such
as grain production, domestication of wild animals and cultivation of fruits,
to mention just a few. The types of agricultural activities they engaged in are
discussed in more details below.
Grains production
One of the major agricultural activities the ancient Berbers
were involved in was the production of grains. As an agrarian economy, the
ancient Berbers cultivated crops like wheat and barley in the Maghreb and the
plains of Cyrenaica. Such crops provided a constant supply of food to the
kingdoms.
Rearing animals for meat
Another agricultural activity of the ancient Berbers was the
rearing of animals. Hitherto, the Berbers hunted animals like sheep and goats
in the wild but with time; these and other animals were domesticated. Sheep and
goats were reared at home and this provided a ready source of meat protein for
the various Berber kingdoms. Animal skins and hide were also employed in the
making of clothes.
Cultivation of fruit crops
Also, the ancient Berber system of agriculture included the
cultivation of fruit crops. Some fruits cultivated by them were bananas and
apples. The fruits were mainly produced for domestic consumption but in the event of an over production, the surplus was exported.
Cultivation of nearby lands
One distinct agricultural practice among the ancient Berbers
was the cultivation of lands which were very close to their abode. In those
days, nomadic raids were common and farmers were frequently the target of nomadic attack. To minimize or to prevent the recurrence of these attacks, the farmers
were encouraged to farm the lands which were close to them. This made their
lives a bit more sedentary than it would otherwise have been.
Tax on agriculture
The ancient Berbers imposed taxes on agricultural activities
such as taxes on livestock. There were mobile police units which were created
for the dual purpose of maintaining peace and collecting taxes imposed on
livestock.
ALSO READ:
The features of ancient Berber civilization
The influence of Arabs on the ancient Berber civilization
Factors that accounted for the rise of the ancient Berber civilization
The economic organization of the ancient Berber society
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