شناسایی و ارزیابی زراعی و اکولوژیک گیاهان فراموش شده در بوم نظام‌های زراعی: ابعاد تاریخی تکامل کشاورزی

اغلب مورخین و باستان شناسان، ایران را به عنوان یکی از خاستگاه های اصلی پیدایش تمدن بشری و کشاورزی یاد می‌کنند. از آثار تمدن بشری به جای مانده از هزاران سال پیش در نقاط مختلف فلات ایران به خوبی می‌توان دریافت که ایرانیان باستان نقش مهمی را در ایجاد و توسعه کشاورزی ایفا کرده‌اند. بر اساس مدارک باستان شناسی پیش از آن که کشاورزی در سایر نقاط جهان آغاز گردد، در فلات ایران کشاورزی شروع شده است. کاوش‌های باستان شناسی در استان ایلام بیانگر آن است که ایرانیان باستان جزء اولین اقوامی بودند که در حدود 10000 سال قبل اقدام به اهلی سازی گیاهان و حیوانات کردند. البته در طول زمان پیشرفت کشاورزی روند ثابتی را نداشته و با توجه به حوادث سیاسی، اجتماعی و اقتصادی دستخوش حوادث زیادی شده است. در زمان هخامنشیان و ساسانیان به دلیل توجه زمامداران به امر کشاورزی، نه تنها در زراعت و دامپروری پیشرفت‌های شگرفی حاصل شده بود بلکه در عملیات زیرساختهایی نظیر سدسازی و روش‌های آبیاری از جمله احداث قنات نیز ابداعات فراوانی صورت گرفته بود. احداث و توسعه راههای ارتباطی بین ایران و سایر ملل منجر به افزایش مبادلات تجاری از جمله صادرات و واردات محصولات کشاورزی شد و این امر موجب معرفی و کشت گیاهان جدید در ایران گردید. در برخی دوران‌ها وقوع جنگ‌های متعدد از عوامل اصلی در عقب ماندگی کشاورزی ایران بود. به عنوان مثال از پیامدهای حمله مغول به ایران، نابود شدن تاسیسات آبیاری، زمین‌های کشاورزی، کاهش سطح زیر کشت گیاهان زراعی، نابودشدن دام ها و از بین رفتن نیروی کار انسانی بود. با ظهور شخصیت‌های تاثیرگذاری در طول تاریخ چون غازان خان، قائم مقام فراهانی و امیرکبیر، بسیاری از عقب ماندگی‌های حاصله جبران شد. در طی تاریخ 10 هزار ساله کشاورزی ایران هنوز بخش عمده‌ای از تلاش های نیاکان ما در زیر خروارها خاک پنهان بوده که آثار تلاش های بی وقفه آن ها در تمام نوشتارهای علمی و تاریخی جهان موجود است و جای آن دارد که این دستاوردهای عظیم پیشینیان خود را که غبار تاریخ آن‌را از دید جهانیان مخفی نگه داشته است غبار روبی نموده و با شبیه‌سازی آن چه گذشتگان ما در درازای تاریخ به جهانیان عرضه کرده‌اند، شکوه و عظمت گذشته کشاورزی باستانی را بازیابیم.

Agronomic and Ecological Identification and Evaluation of Neglected Crops in Iranian Agroecosystems: Historical Dimensions of Agricultural Development

Introduction;Most historians and archaeologist have known Iran as one of the main origins of human settlement and agriculture. Persians were the first human groups attempted to domesticate wild plants and animals. In this article we have tried to investigate the development of agriculture from ancient to nowadays with discussed and examined different historical sources. ;Materials and Methods;To investigate the evolutionary history of Iran agriculture, according to historical documents, the era was divided to separate periods: development of settlements and beginning of agriculture in Iranian plateau, from Achaemenes to the time of Alexander conquest, Alexander 's conquest, Parthian, Sassanid, the presence of Arabs in Iran, late 9 to 13 AD, Mongols invasion, Safavids, Afsharian and Qajar and agriculture development was evaluated in each period. ;Results and discussion;Development of agriculture in the Iranian plateau;Susa was the first civilization in the Iranian plateau and at that time collection of seeds was started by human. Cereals were grown and clothing was made from fiber crops that cultivated. Domestication of wild animals and plants has been recorded to start 10 thousand years ago in this area.;From Achaemenes to the time of Alexander conquest;Achaemenid kings had great interest in the exploitation of natural resources, water and soil, development of commerce and agriculture commodities and growing trees and plants (Paradises) around their palaces. At this time, the Iranians not only excelled in agriculture and animal husbandry, but also in engineering dams and digging irrigation canals, and Qanat. ;Parthian;At the time of the Parthians the number and size of villages increased and the extent of cultivated land with irrigation systems were improved. Cultivation of industrial plants such as cotton and sesame was practiced, and trade between the nomads and villagers was common.;Sassanid;At this period construction of roads between Iran and other nations was developed leading to increased trade, including exports and imports of agricultural products. This exchange led to the introduction and cultivation of new plants in Iran. New crops such as rice, sugar cane and indigo were imported from India. Irrigation systems were significantly improved.;Presence of Arabs in Iran;With the Arab conquest, many dams built by Achaemenid and Sassanid were destroyed. During the Abbasid Caliphate (750 to 1258 AD) cultivation and agricultural production was reconsidered, so farmers began new agricultural activities. ;Late 9 to 13 AD;Irrigation methods such as using river channels, digging Qanat, wells and dams were developed. Production of citrus was common. During this period by wisdom of some politicians such as Nezamalmolk agriculture was developed significantly.;Mongols invasion;The negative impact of the Mongol invasion of Iran was destruction of irrigation facilities and agricultural lands, reduction of area under crop cultivation, loss of livestock and farm labors. With emergence of influential personage such as Ghazan Khan, agriculture was developed. In this course, wheat and barley and fruits trees were cultivated widely. Irrigation systems were developed. In this era Kabar dam, one of the oldest arc dams was built near Qom.;Safavids;Among the kings of this dynasty, Shah Abbas made many efforts in order to develop agriculture. In his time, dams and canals were constructed and farmers ' rights and safety were considered..;Afsharian;In this period many farmers were killed due to occurrence of frequent wars and Qanats, dams and irrigation systems were destroyed and therefore caused recession in agriculture. To transfer the water from Aras River to Mugan plain channels were constructed.;Qajar era;In this period agriculture was in a primitive state and there was not much knowledge on soil fertility improvement and crop production. At the time of Amirkabir industrial crops such as sugar cane were reintroduced. The first attempt in agricultural education was made in Muzaffar alDin Shah’s period and Falahat Muzaffari School was established. In the last century with the help of technology available, a significant achievement has been made in Iranian Agriculture.;Conclusion;The main part of our primogenitor efforts that are available in scientific and historical documents, is buried under huge weight of soil. It is necessary to discover these historical tremendous achievements of our primogenitor to the world. With simulation of these achievements we can revival the greatness of our ancient agriculture.