Early Neolithic Civilizations essays

Early Neolithic Civilizations essays I believe that humans have always sought control over our lives, environments, and the people around us. The Neolithic revolution enabled people to increase their control over these factors. Though it was likely unconscious at first, humans began to select the plants and animals that they interacted with. Once people realized that the plants and animals were changing because of that interaction, it was only a short leap to begin deliberate attempts at change. Dogs were once of the first domesticated animals, and evidence for this can be found in all parts of the world. In southwest Asia and North America, evidence for domestication is found as far back as 11,000 years ago. All dogs are descended from various types of wolves. It is likely that humans accidentally became involved with the predators, but once they realized their usefulness, humans began to actively search out and artificially select for wolves that were different. They would likely have chosen those who were less aggressive, differently colored, and larger or smaller. Thus began the evolution of the dog into it many varied forms of today (Feder 438-440). In southwest Asia - the Middle East, cereal crops went through a similar process 9,000 ya by the Natufians. Wheat is a plant common to this area, and two domesticated varieties emmer and einkorn have been dated to more than 10,000 years ago (456). The wild wheat had two problems that had to be dealt with. First, that rachis of a wheat plant (where the seeds attach to the plant) becomes brittle and breaks very easily when the seeds become ripe. In the wild, this allows the seeds to be easily carried off by winds or animals, allowing for the spread of the plant. Also, the kernel is encased by a glume that is very tough, and requires much grinding to remove and make edible. As humans began to work with these plants, they would naturally utilize the plants with tougher rachis because these woul...