domestication | National Geographic Society

Domestication is the process of adapting wild plants and animals for human use. Domestic species are raised for food, work, clothing, ... Skiptocontent Donate Account Menu Close Account ThisliststhelogosofprogramsorpartnersofNGEducationwhichhaveprovidedorcontributedthecontentonthispage. Poweredby Twitter Facebook Pinterest GoogleClassroom Email Print EncyclopedicEntry Vocabulary Domesticationistheprocessofadaptingwildplantsandanimalsforhumanuse.Domesticspeciesareraisedforfood,work,clothing,medicine,andmanyotheruses.Domesticatedplantsandanimalsmustberaisedandcaredforbyhumans.Domesticatedspeciesarenotwild.PlantDomesticationPeoplefirstdomesticatedplantsabout10,000yearsago,betweentheTigrisandEuphratesriversinMesopotamia(whichincludesthemoderncountriesofIran,Iraq,Turkey,andSyria).Peoplecollectedandplantedtheseedsofwildplants.Theymadesuretheplantshadasmuchwaterastheyneededtogrow,andplantedtheminareaswiththerightamountofsun.Weeksormonthslater,whentheplantsblossomed,peopleharvestedthefoodcrops.ThefirstdomesticatedplantsinMesopotamiawerewheat,barley,lentils,andtypesofpeas.Peopleinotherpartsoftheworld,includingeasternAsia,partsofAfrica,andpartsofNorthandSouthAmerica,alsodomesticatedplants.Otherplantsthatwerecultivatedbyearlycivilizationsincludedrice(inAsia)andpotatoes(inSouthAmerica).Plantshavenotonlybeendomesticatedforfood.Cottonplantsweredomesticatedforfiber,whichisusedincloth.Someflowers,suchastulips,weredomesticatedforornamental,ordecorative,reasons.AnimalDomesticationAboutthesametimetheydomesticatedplants,peopleinMesopotamiabegantotameanimalsformeat,milk,andhides.Hides,ortheskinsofanimals,wereusedforclothing,storage,andtobuildtentshelters.Goatswereprobablythefirstanimalstobedomesticated,followedcloselybysheep.InSoutheastAsia,chickensalsoweredomesticatedabout10,000yearsago.Later,peoplebegandomesticatinglargeranimals,suchasoxenorhorses,forplowingandtransportation.Theseareknownasbeastsofburden.Domesticatinganimalscanbedifficultwork.Theeasiestanimalstodomesticateareherbivoresthatgrazeonvegetation,becausetheyareeasiesttofeed:Theydonotneedhumanstokillotheranimalstofeedthem,ortogrowspecialcrops.Cows,forinstance,areeasilydomesticated.Herbivoresthateatgrainsaremoredifficulttodomesticatethanherbivoresthatgrazebecausegrainsarevaluableandalsoneedtobedomesticated.Chickensareherbivoresthateatseedsandgrain.Someanimalsdomesticatedforonepurposenolongerservethatpurpose.Somedogsweredomesticatedtoassistpeopleinhunting,forinstance.Therearehundredsofdomesticdogspeciestoday.Manyofthemarestillexcellenthunters,butmostarepets.Throughouthistory,peoplehavebreddomesticatedanimalstopromotecertaintraits.Domesticanimalsarechosenfortheirabilitytobreedincaptivityandfortheircalmtemperament.Theirabilitytoresistdiseaseandsurviveindifficultclimatesisalsovaluable.Overtime,thesetraitsmakedomesticanimalsdifferentfromtheirwildancestors.Dogswereprobablydomesticatedfromgraywolves.Today,dogsareadistinctspeciesfromgraywolves.Domesticatedanimalscanlookverydifferentfromtheirwildancestors.Forexample,earlywildchickensweighedabouttwopounds.Butoverthousandsofyearsofdomestication,theyhavebeenbredtobelarger.Largerchickensyieldmoremeat.Today,domesticchickensweighasmuchas17pounds.Wildchickensonlyhatchedasmallnumberofeggsonceayear,whiledomesticchickenscommonlylay200ormoreeggseachyear.EffectsonHumansDomesticatingplantsmarkedamajorturningpointforhumans:thebeginningofanagriculturalwayoflifeandmorepermanentcivilizations.Humansnolongerhadtowandertohuntanimalsandgatherplantsfortheirfoodsupplies.Agriculture—thecultivatingofdomesticplants—allowedfewerpeopletoprovidemorefood.Thestabilitythatcamewithregular,predictablefoodproductionledtoincreasedpopulationdensity.Peoplewereabletodomorethanhuntforeachday’sfood—theycouldtravel,trade,andcommunicate.Theworld'sfirstvillagesandcitieswerebuiltnearfieldsofdomesticatedplants.Plantdomesticationalsoledtoadvancesintoolproduction.Theearliestfarmingtoolswerehandtoolsmadefromstone.Peoplelaterdevelopedmetalfarmingtools,andeventuallyusedplowspulledbydomesticatedanimalstoworkfields. Onlydomesticatedanimalswearhats. PhotographbyJodiCobb DogsandWolvesThoughtoday'sdogswerelikelydomesticatedfromgraywolves,theyarenowadistinctspecies.Dogs'scientificnameiscanislupusfamiliaris,whilethescientificnameforgraywolvesiscanislupus. WildHorsesTheprocessofdomesticationcontinues.Cowboysandotherhorseexpertstrainhorses.Sometimes,thisiscalled"breaking"ahorse.Trainingahorsetoallowasaddleandriderrequiresanenormousamountofphysicalwork,training,andpatience.Horsesthatarebornonranchesorinstablesstillneedtobetrained,althoughtrainingayounghorseiseasierthandomesticatingahorsecaughtinthewild. adapt Verb toadjusttonewsurroundingsoranewsituation. agriculture Noun theartandscienceofcultivatinglandforgrowingcrops(farming)orraisinglivestock(ranching). ancestor Noun organismfromwhomoneisdescended. animal Noun organismsthathaveawell-definedshapeandlimitedgrowth,canmovevoluntarily,acquirefoodanddigestitinternally,andcanrespondrapidlytostimuli. barley Noun grasscultivatedasagrain. beastofburden Noun animalusedforcarryingorpullingheavyloads. break Verb totameahorse,ormakeitcomfortablewithasaddleandrider. breed Verb toproduceoffspring. chicken Noun domesticbirdcultivatedformeat,eggs,andfeathers. city Noun largesettlementwithahighpopulationdensity. civilization Noun complexwayoflifethatdevelopedashumansbegantodevelopurbansettlements. climate Noun allweatherconditionsforagivenlocationoveraperiodoftime. communicate Verb toexchangeknowledge,thoughts,orfeelings. cotton Noun clothmadefromfibersofthecottonplant. cow Noun large,domesticatedmammalusedformilkandmeat. cowboy Noun personwhoherdscattleonaranch,usuallyonahorse. crop Noun agriculturalproduce. dog Noun domesticanimalrelatedtothewolf. domestication Noun theprocessofadaptingwildplantsoranimalsforhumanuse. enormous Adjective verylarge. fiber Noun long,thin,threadlikematerialproducedbyplantsthataidsdigestivemotionwhenconsumed. goat Noun hoofedmammaldomesticatedforitsmilk,coat,andflesh. grain Noun harvestedseedofsuchgrassesaswheat,oats,andrice. graze Verb tofeedongrass,usuallyoverawidepasture. greywolf Noun mammalrelatedtothedog. harvest Noun thegatheringandcollectionofcrops,includingbothplantsandanimals. herbivore Noun organismthateatsmainlyplantsandotherproducers. hide Noun leatherskinofananimal. horse Noun typeofdomesticatedmammalusedforridingandhauling. hunt Verb topursueandkillananimal,usuallyforfood. lentil Noun plantwithsmall,flatseeds,nativetoAsia. Mesopotamia Noun ancientregionbetweentheTigrisandEuphratesRivers,todaylyingmostlyinIraq. metal Noun categoryofelementsthatareusuallysolidandshinyatroomtemperature. ornamental Adjective decorativeorpresentedforbeauty. patience Noun abilitytodealwithpain,misfortune,orannoyancewithoutcomplaint. pea Noun plantwithapodbearingsmall,roundseeds. permanent Adjective constantorlastingforever. plant Noun organismthatproducesitsownfoodthroughphotosynthesisandwhosecellshavewalls. plow noun,verb toolusedforcutting,lifting,andturningthesoilinpreparationforplanting. populationdensity Noun thenumberofpeoplelivinginasetarea,suchasasquaremile. potato Noun plantnativetotheAmericas. predictable Adjective regularorabletobeforecasted. process Noun naturalorhumanactionsthatcreateandchangetheEarthsfeatures. ranch Noun largefarmonwhichlivestockareraised. resist Verb toopposeorconfront. rice Noun grasscultivatedforitsseeds. saddle Noun seatforarideronahorse. seed Noun partofaplantfromwhichanewplantgrows. sheep Noun typeofmammalwiththick,strongwoolusedforcloth. shelter Noun structurethatprotectspeopleorotherorganismsfromweatherandotherdangers. stable Adjective steadyandreliable. stable Noun buildingwherehorsesorotheranimalsarekept. storage Noun spaceforkeepingmaterialsforuseatalatertime. tame Verb todomesticateormakeusefulforhumans. temperament Noun traitsorpersonalityofanindividual. tool Noun instrumentusedtohelpintheperformanceofatask. trade Noun buying,selling,orexchangingofgoodsandservices. trait Noun characteristicoraspect. transportation Noun movementofpeopleorgoodsfromoneplacetoanother. travel Noun movementfromoneplacetoanother. tulip Noun colorful,cup-shapedflowernativetoAsia. village Noun smallhumansettlementusuallyfoundinaruralsetting. wheat Noun mostwidelygrowncerealintheworld. wild Adjective livinginnature,nottame. Articles&Profiles NationalGeographicNews:AncientManureMayBeEarliestProofofHorseDomestication NationalGeographicNews:FirstWine?ArchaeologistTracesDrinktoStoneAge Credits MediaCredits Theaudio,illustrations,photos,andvideosarecreditedbeneaththemediaasset,exceptforpromotionalimages,whichgenerallylinktoanotherpagethatcontainsthemediacredit.TheRightsHolderformediaisthepersonorgroupcredited. Writers KimRutledge TaraRamroop DianeBoudreau MelissaMcDaniel SantaniTeng ErinSprout HilaryCosta HilaryHall JeffHunt Illustrators MaryCrooks,NationalGeographicSociety TimGunther Editors JeannieEvers,EmdashEditing KaraWest EducatorReviewer NancyWynne Producer Caryl-Sue,NationalGeographicSociety Sources Dunn,MargeryG.(Editor).(1989,1993)."ExploringYourWorld:TheAdventureofGeography."Washington,D.C.:NationalGeographicSociety. 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Selectfromtheseresourcestoteachyourstudentsaboutagriculturalcommunities. ViewCollection Mesopotamia Mesopotamiaisthoughttobeoneoftheplaceswhereearlycivilizationdeveloped.ItisahistoricregionofWestAsiawithin theTigris-Euphratesriversystem.Infact,thewordMesopotamia means"betweenrivers"inGreek.HometotheancientcivilizationsofSumer,Assyria,andBabyloniathesepeoplesarecreditedwithinfluencing mathematicsandastronomy.Usetheseclassroomresourcestohelpyourstudentsdevelopabetterunderstandingofthecradleofcivilization.  ViewCollection Hunter-Gatherers Hunter-gathererculturesforageorhuntfoodfromtheirenvironment.Oftennomadic,thiswastheonlywayoflifeforhumansuntilabout12,000yearsagowhenarchaeologicstudiesshowevidenceoftheemergenceofagriculture.Humanlifestylesbegantochangeasgroupsformedpermanentsettlementsandtendedcrops.Therearestillafewhunter-gathererpeoplestoday.Explorethelifestyleofhunter-gatherersinyourclassroomwiththeseresources. ViewCollection RiseofCities Humansreliedonhuntingandgatheringpracticestosurviveforthousandsofyearsbeforethedevelopmentofagriculture.Thenarosethe“NeolithicRevolution,”wherecropcultivationandanimaldomesticationbegan.Thismorereliablefoodsupplymeanthumanscouldstayinoneplaceandgaverisetosettledcommunitiesandcities.Theseurbancivilizationshadlargerpopulations,uniquearchitectureandart,systemsofgovernment,differentsocialandeconomicclasses,andadivisionoflabor. Learnmoreabouttheriseofcitieswiththeseresources. ViewCollection WhereFarmingBegan ExploretheoriginsoffarminganddomesticationintheFertileCrescent. ViewInfographic CatDiversity Exploretheoriginsofthedomesticatedcat. ViewVideo TheDevelopmentofAgriculture Thedevelopmentofagriculturalabout12,000yearsagochangedthewayhumanslived.Theyswitchedfromnomadichunter-gathererlifestylestopermanentsettlementsandfarming. ViewleveledArticle ViewMoreResources RelatedResources AgriculturalCommunities Agriculturalcommunitiesdevelopedapproximately10,000yearsagowhenhumansbegantodomesticateplantsandanimals.Byestablishingdomesticity,familiesandlargergroupswereabletobuildcommunitiesandtransitionfromanomadichunter-gathererlifestyledependentonforagingandhuntingforsurvival. Selectfromtheseresourcestoteachyourstudentsaboutagriculturalcommunities. ViewCollection Mesopotamia Mesopotamiaisthoughttobeoneoftheplaceswhereearlycivilizationdeveloped.ItisahistoricregionofWestAsiawithin theTigris-Euphratesriversystem.Infact,thewordMesopotamia means"betweenrivers"inGreek.HometotheancientcivilizationsofSumer,Assyria,andBabyloniathesepeoplesarecreditedwithinfluencing mathematicsandastronomy.Usetheseclassroomresourcestohelpyourstudentsdevelopabetterunderstandingofthecradleofcivilization.  ViewCollection Hunter-Gatherers Hunter-gathererculturesforageorhuntfoodfromtheirenvironment.Oftennomadic,thiswastheonlywayoflifeforhumansuntilabout12,000yearsagowhenarchaeologicstudiesshowevidenceoftheemergenceofagriculture.Humanlifestylesbegantochangeasgroupsformedpermanentsettlementsandtendedcrops.Therearestillafewhunter-gathererpeoplestoday.Explorethelifestyleofhunter-gatherersinyourclassroomwiththeseresources. 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