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What Caused the Rise of Agriculture?

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__NOTOC__[[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 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. The behavioral change could occur rapidly, leading ultimately to animal populations that can be separated and then genetically modified.
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 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 domesticatesdomesticated, they clearly derive are derived from wolfswolves; however, similar to sheep and goats, wolfs 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.  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 It is animal domestication that we first begin to see have an impact on agriculture, as it occurred more quickly than plant domestication. ====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.
==Geographical Also, during the period known as the Younger Dryas (12,900 to c. 11,700 BP), which was a cold and Climatic Factors==dry period in the Near East and was an ice age in Europe and North America, human societies were mostly living in small bands.<ref>For a discussion on the Younger Dryas and its role on domestication see: Haldorsen, Sylvi, Hasan Akan, Bahattin Çelik, and Manfred Heun. 2011. “The Climate of the Younger Dryas as a Boundary for Einkorn Domestication.” ''Vegetation History and Archaeobotany'', April. dos:10.1007/s00334-011-0291-5.</ref> At this stage, some exploitation of wild varieties of plants and animals likely occurred, with perhaps animals such as dogs, sheep, and goats potentially already domesticated. In the subsequent period, with the melting of the continental glaciers, a much different environment developed. The Near East became warmer and wetter, and this led to more rainfall in many areas of the Near East.
We see domestication This change encouraged more exploitation of plants and agriculture occurring so early in the Near East because of two main reasons. One is the geographyanimals; however, where the Near East contains many wild progenitors of domesticatesit seems domestication was not an even process. <ref>SeeFor a discussion on the rate of domestication, see: ZederHeather, MPringle. A1998. 2008. “Domestication and Early “The Slow Birth of Agriculture in the Mediterranean Basin: Origins, Diffusion, and Impact.” ''Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 105Science'' 282(335393): 11597–6041446. dos:10.1073</pnasref> Not every village or settlement necessarily exploited plants and animals and began to domesticate them.0801317105Rather, some villages appear 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 region along Neolithic Revolution in the Zagros and Taurus mountains Near East: Transforming the Human Landscape''. 1. paperback print. Tucson, valleysAriz: Univ. of Arizona Press.</ref> Favorable climate conditions did allow agriculture to expand to more distant regions, and lowlands is home where now we begin to wild varieties see the spread of wheatcrop plants, lentilsprobably through human action and spreading, oats, barley, sheep, dogs, goats, pigs, and cowsto new areas across the Near East. On the other hand, many other regions do not contain such a rich variety The spread of plants domesticated crops and animals that are genetically susceptible eventually makes its way to domesticationEurope.
In addition, during the period known as the Younger Dryas (12,900 ====Social Factors====Greater dependence on agriculture appears to c. 11,700 BP), which was a cold and dry period in the Near East and was an ice age in Europe and North America, human societies were mostly living in small bandshave encouraged greater emphasis on settlement.<ref>For With a discussion greater dependence on the Younger Dryas plant and its role on animal domestication see: Haldorsen, Sylvi, Hasan Akan, Bahattin Çelik, it became a greater hindrance to travel farther distances and Manfred Heun. 2011. “The Climate of the Younger Dryas as a Boundary for Einkorn Domestication.” ''Vegetation History exploit hunting and Archaeobotany'', Aprilgathering resources. dos:10.1007/s00334-011-0291-5.</ref> At this stageTherefore, some exploitation settled societies became possible with the rise of wild varieties of plants and animals likely occurredagriculture. This had profound importance in social development, with perhaps animals such as dogs, sheepit led to new household institutions, including nuclear and goats potentially already domesticated. In the subsequent periodextended families, with the melting of the continental glaciers, a much different environment developed. The Near East became warmer and wetter and this led adaptation to more rainfall greater numbers of people in many areas of the Near East. This encouraged more exploitation of plants and animals; however, it seems domestication was not an even processsmaller spaces.<ref>For a discussion on the rate of social changes associated with domestication, see: HeatherBender, PringleBarbara. 19981978. “The Slow Birth of Agriculture“Gatherer‐hunter to Farmer: A Social Perspective.” ''ScienceWorld Archaeology'' 28210 (53932):1446204–22.</ref> Not every village or settlement necessarily exploited plants and animals and began to domesticate them. Rather, some villages appear 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 seedos: Simmons, Alan H10. 20101080/00438243. ''The Neolithic Revolution in the Near East: Transforming the Human Landscape''1978. 1. paperback print. Tucson, Ariz: Univ. of Arizona Press9979731.</ref> Favorable climate conditions did allow agriculture to expand to more distant regions, where now we begin The latter is significant because this ultimately leads to see the spread rise of crop plants, probably through human action cities and spreading, to new areas across the Near East. The spread development of domesticated crops laws, governments, and animals eventually makes its way to Europeformal religions.
==Social Factors==In essence, agriculture creates new social problems, whereby greater numbers of people living in more confined spaces need to create new social practices to manage their social interactions. In many respects, the foundations to our societies whereby laws, governments, and social norms that regulate how we marry, interact and structure our families were initially developed at the time of agricultural domestication and its spread becoming the norm. In time, social structures created began to reinforce the need for agriculture, that is societies becoming dependent on them, encouraging people to stay settled and follow given social norms such as those that developed with the rise of agriculture.
Greater dependence on agriculture appears to ====Conclusion====We can safely say few inventions have encouraged greater emphasis on settlement. With 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 a as profound importance in social development, an effect 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, agriculture. It altered both animals and formal religions. In essence, agriculture creates new social problems, whereby greater numbers of people living in more confined spaces need crop to create new social practices to manage their social interactionsbe maximized for human consumption. In many respects, the foundations to our societies whereby laws, governments, and social norms that regulate how we marry, interact, and structure our families were initially Societies have subsequently developed at across the time globe because of these agricultural domestication advances and its spread becoming the norm.</ref> In time, social structures created began to reinforce factors that caused the need for rise of agriculturerange from genetic circumstances, that is societies becoming dependent on themgeographical factors, favorable climatic conditions, encouraging people to stay settled and follow given social norms such as those developments that developed with the rise of encouraged greater dependence on agricultureover time.
==Conclusion==All of 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.
We can safely say there are few inventions that have had as profound an effect as <div class="portal" style="width:85%;">====Related DailyHistory.org Articles====*[[What was Plato's academy and why did it influence Western thought?]]*[[Alexander the development of agriculture, affecting both animals and crop plants, but also how societies have subsequently developed across Great Top Ten Booklist]]*[[Why was Alexander the globe. The factors that caused Great So Successful In His Conquests?]]*[[What Factors Led to the rise Creation of agriculture range from genetic circumstances, geographical factors, favorable climatic conditions, and social developments that encouraged greater dependence on agriculture over time. All of these events ensured that our own societies developed on the path in which they are evident today. In summaryFirst Cities?]]*[[Thomas Jefferson, understanding the rise Founding Fathers and factors of agriculture helps to explain how we have arrived to our given social state today.Christianity: Interview with Sam Haselby]]</div>
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Updated January 11, 2018
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