Agriculture—The domestication of plants and animals to provide food and other necessary commodities for human use.
Domestication—The conscious or unconscious act of altering the genetic structure of a plant or animal in manner seen as being beneficial to humans.
Agricultural Beginnings
- Between roughly 12,000-4,500 years ago agriculture was independently developed in several parts of the world.
- This happens first in the area often called the Fertile Crescent (Middle East—12,000-10,000 BP).
Areas:
China—10,500 BP
Mesoamerica—5,500 BP*
Andes and Amazonia—5,500 BP*
Eastern U.S.—4,500 BP
New Guinea—9,000 BP
Plant & Animal Domestication
Middle East—Wheat, Barley
China—Millet, Rice, Hemp
Mesoamerica—Maize (Corn), Legumes, Cotton, squash
South America—Potatoes, Tomatoes
West Africa—Sorghum
East Africa—Coffee
New Guinea—Sugar Cane
Southwest Asia—Sheep, Goat
China—Pig*, Silkworm
Mesoamerica—Turkey
Andes and Amazonia—Llamas, Guinea Pig
Africa—Guinea Fowl
Indus Valley—Humped Cattle
Egypt—Donkey, Cat
Dog Domesticaiton
Dogs are the only known forager domesticate.
Evidence suggests that they were first domesticated around 14,000 B.P., in southeast Asia.
All of today’s domesticated dogs can be traced to wolves from this region.