Footprints of Civilisation

The legacies of the Inca, Mesopotamian, Persian, Greek, Chinese, Egyptian, Roman and Indus societies continue to exert deep influences on contemporary life. This episode of the agriculture programme explores how the farming techniques and innovations of those ancient civilisations still shape modern agricultural practices.

Agriculture is a programme presented in an episode format, classified within the documentary genre. It aims to explore specific facets of food production, offering a concise yet informative look at the historical and practical elements that underpin modern farming practices through careful research and visual illustration for today’s audience globally. In this particular episode, the programme highlights how a suite of ancient civilisations—including the Inca, Mesopotamian, Persian, Greek, Chinese, Egyptian, Roman and Indus societies—still exert profound influence on contemporary life. The focus centres on agriculture, illustrating the ways these early cultures shaped the foundations of present‑day food production across the world today for modern societies. The episode delves into specific agricultural practices that originated with these societies, such as early irrigation methods, crop selection techniques, and land‑management strategies. By drawing direct connections between historic innovations and current farming systems, it demonstrates that many of the principles governing today’s agriculture can be traced back to the ingenuity of these ancient peoples throughout history and into present. By concentrating on agriculture, the programme underscores the continuity between ancient knowledge and modern practice, showing that the groundwork laid by the Inca, Mesopotamian, Persian, Greek, Chinese, Egyptian, Roman and Indus cultures remains integral to today’s food systems. Viewers come away with a clearer picture of how historical agricultural legacies continue to shape our world.