This chapter examines agriculture’s central role in human history and its profound impact on the environment. It underscores how agriculture, essential for human survival, has been deeply intertwined with environmental transformation. By reviewing the historical development of Chinese agriculture, the lecture highlights the shift from extensive to intensive farming practices. The extensive expansion of agriculture involved the rise and decline of agricultural activity in the Yellow and Yangtze River basins, shaped by both geographical and socio-economic factors. The Yellow River basinThe Yellow River/The Yellow River basin, once the nation’s agricultural heartland, gradually ceded its dominance to the Yangtze River basinThe Yangtze River/The Yangtze River basin in later periods. Intensive agricultural development focused on technological innovations such as crop rotation and multi-cropping systems, which enhanced productivity and optimized land use. The lecture also discusses the environmental consequences of agricultural expansion, including deforestation, soil degradation, and desertification. While large-scale land reclamation initially boosted production, it also led to long-term ecological challenges. The discussion highlights the wisdom of traditional agricultural practices and their relevance to contemporary sustainability efforts.