where did agriculture begin?
Almost all of the oldest records are from the Near East. How do we know the plants they used were cultivated? • Man was a hunter-gatherer before he began agriculture. In 1900, hunter-gatherers were restricted to small areas that were too dry, too cold or too wet for agriculture. Domesticated animals (dog, sheep, goat, cow) all arose about the same time as domestication of plants. Only about 50 animals were ever domesticated. These could have been linked to religion. Animals used to till fields mostly in the old world. Why did agriculture arise? Studies of present day hunter-gatherers indicate that they have considerable leisure time. In good areas, they don’t have to learn to plant. Most hunter-gatherers eat (ate) plants. How do we know that? What was there? 12C/13C ratios, dentition, abrasion on teeth. Meat was an occasional luxury. Populations of hunter-gatherers usually maintained below carrying capacity. Cultivation may have arisen in the zones between sedentary and hunter-gatherer
