History of cotton
[8][9] Some of the oldest cotton bolls were discovered in a cave in Tehuacán Valley, Mexico, and were dated to approximately 5500 BCE, but some doubt has been cast on these estimates.
[9] Herodotus, an ancient Greek historian, mentions Indian cotton in the 5th century BCE as "a wool exceeding in beauty and goodness that of sheep", which suggests that the fiber was not yet known in Greece at the time.
[9] Cotton was not a common fabric in Europe at any point until the 18th century, though it did see occasional import and use during the late Middle Ages, often in blends with other fibers.
[citation needed] Vasco da Gama (d. 1524), a Portuguese explorer, opened Asian sea trade, which replaced caravans and allowed for heavier cargo.
The trade imbalance caused Europeans to export large quantities of gold and silver to Mughal India in order to pay for South Asian imports.
[26] Egypt under Muhammad Ali in the early 19th century had the fifth most productive cotton industry in the world, in terms of the number of spindles per capita.
[16] Calico and chintz, types of cotton fabrics, became popular in Europe, and by 1664 the East India Company was importing a quarter of a million pieces into Britain.
In order to compete with India, Britain invested in labour-saving technical progress, while implementing protectionist policies such as bans and tariffs to restrict Indian imports.
The Indian subcontinent was looked to as a possible source of raw cotton, but intra-imperial conflicts and economic rivalries prevented the area from producing the necessary supply.
Anglo-French warfare in the early 1790s restricted access to continental Europe, causing the United States to become an important—and temporarily the largest—consumer for British cotton goods.
Several factors contributed to the growth of the cotton industry in the U.S.: the increasing British demand; innovations in spinning, weaving, and steam power; inexpensive land; and a slave labour force.
[48][49] Cultivation of cotton using enslaved Africans and their descendants brought huge profits to the owners of large plantations, making them some of the wealthiest men in the country prior to the Civil War.
Although the Southern small-farm owners did not grow cotton due to its lack of short-term profitability, they were still supportive of the system in the hopes of one day owning slaves.
[50] Ironically, today, these heirloom varieties are the subject of not only collectors' passions but also renewed interest for high-end niche markets with the hope to produce textiles of lower environmental impact or fibers with sought-after unusual properties (e.g., UV protection).
This was driven by government bans on imported chintz from India and the opening of trading opportunities with Spain's American colonies to Catalan merchants.
Government policy saw the proliferation of more than 75 industrial colonies on the rivers of rural Catalonia seeking water power, cheaper labour and land[59] and led to the industrialisation of the country side.
From the middle of the 19th century the industry was increasingly protected as the costs of importing raw cotton, energy & machinery to Spain made it difficult to compete globally.
There was increasing strife in Spain, a declining economy, civil war and then from 1939, the policy of autarky locked the industry out of the post WW2 global growth and investment.
In recent history, United States agricultural subsidies have depressed world prices, making it difficult for African farmers to compete.
During World War II, shortages created a high demand for khadi, and 16 million yards of cloth were produced in nine months.
[65] The modern cotton economy is a dynamic and globally integrated sector that plays a critical role in the agricultural and industrial landscapes of many countries.
Cotton is one of the most important natural fibers used in the textile industry, and its production, trade, and processing have significant economic, social, and environmental implications.
The adoption of genetically modified (GM) cotton varieties has led to higher yields and reduced pesticide use, particularly in countries like the United States, Brazil, and India.
Precision agriculture, including the use of drones, satellite imagery, and data analytics, has also improved cotton farming efficiency, enabling better resource management and higher productivity.
Innovations such as waterless dyeing and sustainable manufacturing practices are becoming more prevalent, driven by consumer demand for environmentally friendly products.
Cotton prices are influenced by a range of factors, including global supply and demand dynamics, currency exchange rates, and government policies.
The cotton market is highly volatile, with prices subject to fluctuations due to changes in weather conditions, trade policies, and shifts in consumer demand.
The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated market volatility, leading to disruptions in supply chains and shifts in consumer behavior, such as the increased demand for casual and comfortable clothing, which boosted cotton consumption.
Smallholder farmers, who make up the majority of cotton producers in countries like India and sub-Saharan Africa, often face challenges such as low productivity, limited access to markets, and vulnerability to price fluctuations.
The future of the cotton economy will likely be shaped by ongoing technological innovations, shifts in consumer preferences, and increasing emphasis on sustainability.
