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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>

[[FileThe 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:Fertile_CrescentUniversity of California Press.png|thumbnail|Fertile Crescent where Agriculture Developed]]</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 can be separated from their wild ancestors more easily.<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 domesticates, they clearly derive from wolfs; however, similar to sheep and goats, wolfs 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. Similarly, cows were also selected for their meat, milk, and docile behavior. Such a selective process, and the fact that these types of animals lend themselves well to domestication, enables the relatively early development of animals domestication. In fact, it is animal domestication that we first begin to see have an impact on agriculture, as it occurred more quickly than plant domestication.

==Geographical 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 Climatic Factors==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.

We see domestication and agriculture occurring so early in the Near East because of two main reasons. One is the geographySimilarly, where the Near East contains many wild progenitors of domesticates. <ref>See: Zeder, M. A. 2008. “Domestication and Early Agriculture in the Mediterranean Basin: Originscows were also selected for their meat, Diffusionmilk, and Impactdocile behavior.” ''Proceedings of Such a selective process and the National Academy fact that these types 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 animals lend themselves well to wild varieties of wheat, lentils, oats, barley, sheep, dogs, goats, pigs, and cows. On domestication enables the other hand, many other regions do not contain such a rich variety relatively early development of plants and animals domestication. It is animal domestication that are genetically susceptible we first begin to see have an impact on agriculture, as it occurred more quickly than plant domestication.

In addition, during the period known as the Younger Dryas ====Geographical and Climatic Factors====[[File:Texel_-_Bakkenweg_-_View_NE_on_field_of_Barley_-_Gerst_(12,900 to c1). 11,700 BP), which was a cold jpg|left|275px|thumbnail|Field of Barley]]We see domestication and dry period agriculture occurring so early in the Near East and was an ice age in Europe and North Americabecause of two main reasons. One is the geography, human societies were mostly living in small bandswhere the Near East contains many wild progenitors of domesticates.<ref>For a discussion on the Younger Dryas and its role on domestication seeSee: HaldorsenZeder, SylviM. A. 2008. “Domestication and Early Agriculture in the Mediterranean Basin: Origins, Hasan Akan, Bahattin ÇelikDiffusion, and Manfred Heun. 2011. “The Climate of the Younger Dryas as a Boundary for Einkorn DomesticationImpact.” ''Vegetation History and ArchaeobotanyProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 105'', April(33): 11597–604. dos:10.10071073/s00334-011-0291-5pnas.0801317105.</ref> At this stageThe region along the Zagros and Taurus mountains, some exploitation of valleys, and lowlands is home to wild varieties of plants and animals likely occurredwheat, lentils, oats, with perhaps animals such as dogsbarley, sheep, and dogs, goats potentially already domesticated. In the subsequent period, with the melting of the continental glacierspigs, a much different environment developedand cows. The Near East became warmer and wetter and this led to more rainfall in many areas of On the Near East. This encouraged more exploitation of plants and animals; howeverother hand, it seems domestication was many other regions do not an even process.<ref>For contain such a discussion on the rate of domestication, see: Heather, Pringle. 1998. “The Slow Birth rich variety of Agriculture.” ''Science'' 282(5393):1446.</ref> Not every village or settlement necessarily exploited plants and animals and began to domesticate them. Rather, some villages appear that are genetically susceptible to have utilized agriculture for at least some of their food, while overall many villages or nomadic bands were still heavily dependent on hunting and gathering.<ref>For a discussion on complex evidence for domestication and its adoption see: Simmons, Alan H. 2010. ''The Neolithic Revolution in the Near East: Transforming the Human Landscape''. 1. paperback print. Tucson, Ariz: Univ. of Arizona Press.</ref> Favorable climate conditions did allow agriculture to expand to more distant regions, where now we begin to see the spread of crop plants, probably through human action and spreading, to new areas across the Near East. The spread of domesticated crops and animals eventually makes its way to Europe.

Greater dependence on agriculture appears to have This change encouraged greater emphasis on settlement. With greater dependence on plant more exploitation of plants and animal domesticationanimals; however, it became a greater hindrance to travel farther distances and exploit hunting and gathering resources. Therefore, settled societies became possible with the rise of agriculture. This had a profound importance in social development, as it led to new household institutions, including nuclear and extended families, and adaptation to greater numbers of people in smaller spacesseems domestication was not an even process.<ref>For a discussion on the social changes associated with rate of domestication , see: BenderHeather, BarbaraPringle. 19781998. “Gatherer‐hunter to Farmer: A Social Perspective“The Slow Birth of Agriculture.” ''World ArchaeologyScience'' 10 282(25393): 204–22. dos:10.1080/00438243.1978.99797311446.</ref> The latter is significant because this ultimately leads to the rise of cities Not every village or settlement necessarily exploited plants and the development of laws, governments, animals and formal religionsbegan to domesticate them. In essenceRather, some villages appear to have utilized agriculture creates new social problems, whereby greater numbers for at least some of people living in more confined spaces need to create new social practices to manage their social interactions. In food, while overall many respects, the foundations to our societies whereby laws, governments, villages or nomadic bands were still heavily dependent on hunting and social norms that regulate how we marry, interact, and structure our families were initially developed at the time of agricultural gathering.<ref>For a discussion on complex evidence for domestication and its spread becoming adoption see: Simmons, Alan H. 2010. ''The Neolithic Revolution in the Near East: Transforming the normHuman Landscape''. 1. paperback print. Tucson, Ariz: Univ. of Arizona Press.</ref> In timeFavorable climate conditions did allow agriculture to expand to more distant regions, social structures created began where now we begin to reinforce see the need for agriculturespread of crop plants, that is societies becoming dependent on themprobably through human action and spreading, encouraging people to stay settled and follow given social norms such as those that developed with new areas across the rise Near East. The spread of agriculturedomesticated crops and animals eventually makes its way to Europe.

==Conclusion==Social Factors====Greater dependence on agriculture appears to have encouraged greater emphasis on settlement. With a greater dependence on plant and animal domestication, it became a greater hindrance to travel farther distances and exploit hunting and gathering resources. Therefore, settled societies became possible with the rise of agriculture. This had profound importance in social development, as it led to new household institutions, including nuclear and extended families, and adaptation to greater numbers of people in smaller spaces.<ref>For a discussion on the social 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.</ref> The latter is significant because this ultimately leads to the rise of cities and the development of laws, governments, and formal religions.

We can safely say there are few inventions that have had as profound an effect as the development of In essence, agriculturecreates new social problems, affecting both animals and crop plantswhereby greater numbers of people living in more confined spaces need to create new social practices to manage their social interactions. In many respects, but also how the foundations to our societies have subsequently developed across the globe. The factors that caused the rise of agriculture range from genetic circumstanceswhereby laws, geographical factors, favorable climatic conditionsgovernments, and social developments norms that encouraged greater dependence on agriculture over regulate how we marry, interact and structure our families were initially developed at the time. All of these events ensured that our own societies developed on agricultural domestication and its spread becoming the path in which they are evident todaynorm. In summarytime, understanding social structures created began to reinforce the rise and factors of need for agriculture helps , that is societies becoming dependent on them, encouraging people to explain how we have arrived to our stay settled and follow given social state todaynorms such as those that developed with the rise of agriculture.

==References==Conclusion====<references/>We can safely say few inventions have had as profound an effect as the development of agriculture. It altered both animals and crop to be maximized for human consumption. Societies have subsequently developed across the globe because of these agricultural advances and the factors that caused the rise of agriculture range from genetic circumstances, geographical factors, favorable climatic conditions, and social developments that encouraged greater dependence on agriculture over time.

[[Category:Wikis]] [[Category:Ancient Egyptian History]] [[Category:Bronze Age History]] [[Category:History All of Agriculture]] [[Category:Economic History]] {{Contributors}}these events ensured that our societies developed on the path in which they are evident today. In summary, understanding the rise and factors of agriculture helps to explain how we have arrived at our given social state today.

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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}}