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[[File:Fertile_Crescent.png|thumbnail|left|275px|Fertile Crescent where Agriculture Developed]]The rise history of agriculture is a complex topic but from what we do know the earliest region to witness the domestication of plants and animals was in the Fertile Crescent region of the Near EastEastt, spanning modern -day Iraq, Syria, western Iran, southern Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel . This rise is a complex topic that fundamentally altered the course of humanity. Without agriculture, cities and towns would never have developed. (Figure 1). <ref>For a discussion on the regions that witness witnessed the rise of agriculture see: Wengrow, D. 2010. ''What Makes Civilization?: The Ancient Near East and the Future of the West''. Oxford ; New York: Oxford University Press.</ref>The rise of agriculture is so significant that the earliest cereal crops and animals domesticate still form the basis of agriculture in many countries today. This includes the domestication of sheep, goats, pigs, cattle, dogs, donkeys, onager, wheat, barley, oats, and others. Many of these varieties of plants and animals were domesticated between 12,000-9000 years ago.<ref>For a discussion on domestication characteristics see: Zeder, Melinda A., ed. 2006. ''Documenting Domestication: New Genetic and Archaeological Paradigms''. Berkeley, Calif: University of California Press.</ref>
The rise of agriculture is so significant that the earliest cereal crops and animals domesticate still form the basis of agriculture in many countries today. This includes the domestication of sheep, goats, pigs, cattle, dogs, donkeys, onager, wheat, barley, oats, and others. Many of these varieties of plants and animals were domesticated between 12,000-9000 years ago. Our entire way on life depends on plants and animals that were domesticated thousands of years ago.<ref>For a discussion on domestication characteristics see: Zeder, Melinda A., ed. 2006. ''Documenting Domestication: New Genetic and Archaeological Paradigms''. Berkeley, Calif: University of California Press.</ref> ====Genetic Factors====Genetics in animals and plants are very different , and these differences make domestication more complicated in plants than in animals. In particular, wild varieties of many cereals, such as wheat and barley, can be grown for many generations with only minor or subtle differences noticeable even when humans select and replant those cereals that are best suited for their food needs. This could perhaps partially be explained that plants that are subtly different from their wild progenitors can still bread with them, slowing the process of change down.<ref>For a discussion on the domestication of plants and why they might be slow see: Miller, Allison J. 2007. “Crop Plants: Evolution.” In ''Encyclopedia of Life Sciences'', edited by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.</ref>
On the other hand, animals, in particular , caprids (sheep and goats), Bos (cattle), and equids (donkeys and onagers) can be tamed relatively quickly and be separated from their wild ancestors.<ref>For a discussion on behavior and genetic changes in animals that can be tamed see: Dobney, K., and G. Larson. 2006. “Genetics and Animal Domestication: New Windows on an Elusive Process.” ''Journal of Zoology''. dos:10.1111/j.1469-7998.2006.00042.x.</ref> In just one experiment, within 40 years a population of foxes was tamed and behaved very differently from their wild ancestors. Behavioral The behavioral change could occur rapidly, leading ultimately to animal populations that can be separated and then genetically modified. Within a few generations, the offspring of many domesticated animals can be made tame, which is the critical first trait to enable domestication. For dogs, which were also among the earliest domesticated, they are derived from wolves; however, similar to sheep and goats, they can be tamed within a generation. In the case of domestication, the selection process conducted by humans is the most critical factor that leads to domestication.<ref>For a discussion on animal domestication, behavior, and genetic traits see: Price, Edward O. 2002. ''Animal Domestication and Behavior''. Wallingford, Oxon, UK ; New York: CABI Pub.</ref> For instance, sheep and goats were selected for their coats, meat, and to make them docile.
====Geographical and Climatic Factors====[[File:Texel_-_Bakkenweg_-_View_NE_on_field_of_Barley_-_Gerst_(1).jpg|left|275px|thumbnail|Field of Barley]]We see domestication and agriculture occurring so early in the Near East because of two main reasons. One is the geography, where the Near East contains many wild progenitors of domesticates. <ref>See: Zeder, M. A. 2008. “Domestication and Early Agriculture in the Mediterranean Basin: Origins, Diffusion, and Impact.” ''Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 105'' (33): 11597–604. dos:10.1073/pnas.0801317105.</ref>The region along the Zagros and Taurus mountains , valleys, and lowlands is home to wild varieties of wheat, lentils, oats, barley, sheep, dogs, goats, pigs, and cows. On the other hand, many other regions do not contain such a rich variety of plants and animals that are genetically susceptible to domestication.
==Conclusion==Social Factors====We can safely say there are few inventions that Greater dependence on agriculture appears to have had as profound an effect as the development of agricultureencouraged greater emphasis on settlement. With a greater dependence on plant and animal domestication, affecting both animals it became a greater hindrance to travel farther distances and crop plantsexploit hunting and gathering resources. Therefore, but also how settled societies have subsequently developed across the globe. The factors that caused became possible with the rise of agriculture range from genetic circumstances. This had profound importance in social development, geographical factorsas it led to new household institutions, favorable climatic conditionsincluding nuclear and extended families, and social developments that encouraged adaptation to greater dependence on agriculture over timenumbers of people in smaller spaces. All of these events ensured that our own societies developed <ref>For a discussion on the path in which they are evident todaysocial changes associated with domestication see: Bender, Barbara. 1978. “Gatherer‐hunter to Farmer: A Social Perspective.” ''World Archaeology'' 10 (2): 204–22. dos:10.1080/00438243.1978.9979731. In summary, understanding </ref> The latter is significant because this ultimately leads to the rise of cities and factors the development of agriculture helps to explain how we have arrived to our given social state todaylaws, governments, and formal religions.
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====References====<references/> [[Category:Wikis]] [[Category:Ancient Egyptian History]] [[Category:Bronze Age History]] [[Category:History of Agriculture]] [[Category:Economic History]] Updated January 11, 2018 {{mediawiki:Ancient GreeceContributors}}