ANTHROP 1AA3 Lecture Notes - Lecture 18: Persian Gulf, Fertile Crescent, Domestication
23 Mar 2017
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Document Summary
The mesolithic: approximately 17,000 - 10,000 years ago, extinction of large game species, stop follow herds around, shift to broad spectrum collecting, small game, less nomadic populations. Origins of agriculture are not one localized event but spread around the globe. Domestication: when plants or animals become dependent upon human intervention for survival, they"re selected for certain traits by humans, these traits are typically not beneficial for survival in the wild. How did it happen: unconscious v. methodical, routine human interactions with plants and animals, deliberate selective breeding. Domestication drawbacks: dental problems, nutrition, resource access. Animals domesticates: longest human companion is the dog, wolf - dog transition, wolves start to use humans as hunting partners, wolves become smaller, with wider skulls. Pros/cons: risk to food source, labour intensive, good food source, source of labour. Beginnings: southwest asia (fertile cresent, cultivation by 13,000 to 14,000 years ago, agricultural communities by 10,000 by 11,000 communities, eg.
