terraces

We have lovely terraces in the mountains of Luzon, and when I lived in Zimbabwe I vacationed in the eastern part where abandoned terraces were on the hills behind the mission where I was staying. I just posted about these little known terraces on my Africa Blog.

So I asked Grok about what ancient countries had terraces: Mainly posted for my own information and I put it in italics so you know it a quote.

Terracing, the practice of carving flat, arable platforms into sloped terrain, emerged independently across various ancient civilizations as a solution to cultivate land in hilly or mountainous regions. Below is a concise overview of the history of terraces in the ancient world, focusing on key countries and cultures that developed them. ### **Origins and Purpose** Terracing likely began as early as the Neolithic period (ca. 10,000–2,000 BCE) when agriculture spread and populations needed to maximize arable land. Terraces prevented soil erosion, managed water runoff, and created stable fields for crops in challenging terrains. The practice was labor-intensive, often requiring stone walls or earthworks, and reflected advanced agricultural and engineering knowledge. ### **Ancient Civilizations with Terracing** 1. **Mesopotamia (Modern Iraq, ca. 3000 BCE)** - **Evidence**: Early terraces appeared in the hilly regions of Mesopotamia, particularly in the Zagros Mountains. Sumerians and later Babylonians used terracing to cultivate crops like barley and wheat in sloped areas. -

 **Significance**: Terracing supported irrigation systems, channeling water from rivers like the Tigris and Euphrates. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon (if historical, ca. 6th century BCE) may have been a terraced structure, though evidence is debated. 2. **China (ca. 2000 BCE, Shang and Zhou Dynasties)** - 

**Evidence**: Terracing developed in the loess plateaus and hilly regions of the Yellow River valley. The Chinese used terraces for millet, rice, and later wheat, with sophisticated water management systems. - 

**Significance**: By the Zhou Dynasty (1046–256 BCE), terracing was widespread in northern and southern China, enabling rice paddies in mountainous areas like Yunnan. The Longji Rice Terraces, though later (Yuan Dynasty), reflect this ancient tradition. 3. 

**Andean Civilizations (Modern Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, ca. 2000 BCE)** 

 - **Evidence**: The Inca (ca. 1200–1533 CE) and their predecessors, like the Wari and Tiwanaku (ca. 500 BCE–1000 CE), built extensive stone-walled terraces (andenes) in the Andes Mountains. - 

**Significance**: Terraces supported crops like potatoes, quinoa, and maize at high altitudes (up to 4,000 meters). Sites like Machu Picchu and Pisac showcase advanced engineering, with irrigation channels and microclimate control. 4. **Mesoamerica (Modern Mexico, Guatemala, ca. 1000 BCE)** - **Evidence**: The Maya and other Mesoamerican cultures terraced hillsides in regions like the Yucatán and Guatemala for maize, beans, and squash. - 

**Significance**: Terracing complemented chinampas (floating gardens) and allowed agriculture in rugged terrains. Sites like Kaminaljuyu show early terracing efforts by 1000 BCE. 5. 

**Ancient Israel and the Levant (ca. 1500 BCE)** - **Evidence**: Terracing appeared in the hilly regions of Judea and Samaria, used by Canaanites and later Israelites for olives, grapes, and figs. - 

**Significance**: Stone terraces, still visible today, stabilized slopes and conserved water in arid climates. Biblical references to vineyards and orchards suggest terracing was widespread by the Iron Age (1200–600 BCE). 6. **Yemen (Sabaean Kingdom, ca. 1000 BCE)** - **Evidence**: The ancient South Arabian civilizations, particularly the Sabaeans, built terraces in the highlands of Yemen for crops like frankincense, myrrh, and grains. - **Significance**: Terracing supported oasis agriculture in desert regions, tied to sophisticated dam and irrigation systems like the Marib Dam. 7. 

**Philippines (ca. 1000 BCE)** - **Evidence**: The Ifugao people in Luzon began constructing the Banaue Rice Terraces, potentially as early as 1000 BCE, though some date them to 200 BCE. - **Significance**: These terraces, often called the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” supported rice cultivation in steep Cordillera mountains, with intricate irrigation from forest watersheds. 8. **Greece and the Mediterranean (ca. 800 BCE)** -

 **Evidence**: Ancient Greeks and Minoans terraced hillsides in regions like Crete and the Peloponnese for olives, grapes, and cereals. - 

**Significance**: Terracing maximized limited arable land in rocky terrains, supporting city-states’ economies. Similar practices appeared in ancient Rome and Cyprus. ### **Common Features Across Cultures** - **Materials**: Terraces were built with local materials—stone in the Andes and Levant, earth in China, and mixed methods elsewhere. - 

**Irrigation**: Most terracing systems included water management, like channels (Andes, China) or cisterns (Levant, Yemen). - **Crops**: Terraces supported staple crops suited to local climates, from rice and maize to olives and grains. -

 **Cultural Impact**: Terracing enabled population growth, surplus food production, and complex societies in challenging environments. ### **Sources and Notes** - Limited archaeological records and oral traditions (e.g., Ifugao) make precise dating difficult for some terraces. - Web sources, like historical geography studies, and posts on X discussing ancient agriculture corroborate these findings, though no single post provides a comprehensive overview. - For further details, I can search X or the web for specific regions or provide visual descriptions of terrace systems if requested. This summary covers the major ancient civilizations known for terracing. If you want a deeper dive into a specific region or culture, let me know!