Post on 09-Jun-2015
A BRIEF PUBLIC HISTORY OF WHEATLarry CebulaEastern Washington University
WHEAT IS AN ANCIENT CROP
Domesticated in Near East
At least 8,500 years ago
Grown by all ancient Mediterranean civs
By 2000 years ago spread through Old World
WHEAT HAD A CENTRAL PLACE IN EUROPEAN LIFE
The Harvesters (1565) by Pieter Bruegel the Elder
WHEAT IN NORTH AMERICA
Middle colonies known as the “bread colonies”
sewn by hand, harvested by scythe
Major production shifts to Ohio (1840s) and the Great Plains (1890s)
THE VETERAN IN A NEW FIELD (1865), BY WINSLOW HOMER
DEATH = GRIM REAPER
WHEAT AS METAPHOR
Bible full of wheat and bread metaphors
“Staff of life,” The Parable of the Sower
CHANGES IN HARVESTING METHOD: 3000 BCE COMPARE TO 1865
MECHANIZATION
Roman Vallus, 77 A.D.
COMBINES TAKE OVER AROUND 1900
STEAM SHIPPING ROUTES, 1895
POPULATION, LINCOLN COUNTY, WAYear Total
Population
1890 9,312
1900 11,969
1910 17,539
1920 15,141
1930 11,876
1940 11,361
1950 10,970
1960 10,919
1970 9,572
1980 9,604
1990 8,864
2000 10,184
2010 10,570
WINTER WHEAT
Brought to US 1870s
Plant in fall Makes the
most of our dry hot summers
Tumbleweeds
WASHINGTON WHEAT TODAY
WHEAT ICONOGRAPHY & MONUMENTS