How long has basic irrigation been practiced?

Basic irrigation has been practiced for thousands of years, dating back to ancient civilizations. Early agricultural societies recognized the need to manage water resources to cultivate crops effectively, leading to the development of irrigation methods. Historical evidence shows that practices such as ditches, canals, and water diversion systems were used in places like Mesopotamia, Egypt, and the Indus Valley over 5,000 years ago. This long-standing tradition reflects humanity's ongoing relationship with agriculture and water management, emphasizing the critical role that irrigation plays in food production and landscape management throughout history.

In contrast, although irrigation technology has advanced with the advent of modern techniques and systems, such developments represent improvements rather than the inception of irrigation itself. The other choices suggest much shorter timeframes, which do not align with the extensive history of irrigation practices seen globally.