How Biodiversity Shaped Human History 

Fascinating research into the roots of human development reveals how biodiversity has played a decisive role in shaping the course of history.

Biodiversity is not only a part of nature but also an important historical factor that has shaped the development of human societies. The diversity of plants and animals in different parts of the world had a profound impact on the emergence and spread of agriculture. Some regions had an advantage due to their natural resources, while others lagged behind. These differences help explain why human societies developed unevenly throughout history. 

Geographical Inequality of Biodiversity

Not all continents provided the same conditions for the emergence of agriculture. While areas like the Middle East, China, and the Mediterranean had numerous species of nutritious grains and legumes, other regions—such as Australia and Sub-Saharan Africa—had only a limited selection of suitable plants and animals. This difference was not due to the inventiveness of the inhabitants, but rather to the different composition of the local flora and fauna. Climatic stability and seasonality also played a role—favourable conditions allowed for efficient planning of harvests and cultivation, which accelerated the transition to settled life and food production.

The Importance of Continental Axes

The geographical orientation of continents significantly influenced how quickly and efficiently domesticated plants and animals could spread. In Eurasia, where the continent’s axis runs east-west, new agricultural knowledge spread across areas with similar climatic conditions. In contrast, continents like the Americas and Africa are oriented north-south, which means a transition through diverse climatic zones—from the tropics to temperate regions. Such obstacles slowed the transfer of crops, knowledge, and technologies. Although some areas in South America independently developed agriculture, the spread of these innovations was often locally limited.

Initial Diversity as a Decisive Factor

The diversity of original flora and fauna influenced not only the possibilities for domestication but also the quality of life for early agricultural societies. In areas with high diversity—such as the Fertile Crescent—people had access not only to a rich variety of grains but also to grassland species of animals, which were accustomed to living in hierarchies and thus suitable for domestication. In contrast, societies in tropical regions had to cope with the low nutritional value of local plants, frequent seasonal irregularities, and challenging conditions for animal husbandry. This inequality in natural resources translated into different rates of societal development.

The Temporal Gap in the Emergence of Agriculture

Different ecological conditions led to significant time gaps in the transition from gathering to farming. The oldest evidence of agriculture comes from the Middle East over 11,000 years ago, while in the Americas, Sub-Saharan Africa, and New Guinea, this process occurred much later. This delayed start did not signify a lower level of ability among the inhabitants, but was the result of more challenging natural conditions. In some regions, there was never a complete transition to agriculture—especially where biodiversity provided enough food in its natural state but did not allow for domestication.

Conclusion

The history of agriculture is closely linked to the distribution of biodiversity on Earth. The diversity of plant and animal species, climatic stability, and the geographical orientation of continents created unequal starting points that influenced the development of entire civilizations. To understand why some societies developed faster than others, we must look not only at cultural factors but, more importantly, at the ecological factors that predetermined their chances in the distant past.