Domestications of Animals and Plants
Saffron (Crocus sativus)
The spice saffron has been used for its aroma and flavor and vivid yellow pigment for some four thousand years, and is most famous for being ludicrously expensive.
Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum)
Pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) is a domesticate crop best known as a forage, but it was domesticated first as a food crop in west Africa at least 4500 years ago.
Coca History
The earliest use of coca, from whence natural cocaine comes, is in South America, approximately 8,000 years ago.
Avocado History
The lovely alligator pear is native to Central America.
Banana History
Bananas were among the earliest domesticated crops in the world.
The Domestication of Maize
Maize has an enormous modern-day economic usefulness, not to mention a curious domestication history.
Domestication of Cotton (Gossypium)
Cotton was first domesticated in the Old World, and independently domesticated in the New World.
Potato History
The humble potato was first domesticated in the Andes mountains.
Cassava or Manioc
Cassava (Manihot esculenta), also known as manioc, tapioca, yuca and mandioca, is a domesticated species of tuber, originally domesticated perhaps as long ago as 8,000-10,000 years ago
Plant Domestication Table of Dates and Places
A table of dates, places, and links to further detailed information about the domestication of plants.
Coconut Domestication
An illustrated history of the coconut, its origins and domestication, and its dispersal throughout the world
Illustrated Guide to Animal Domestication
The Illustrated Guide to the Domestication of Animals has photos and brief essays about many of the animals that humans have domesticated.
Oasis Theory
The Oasis Theory is a core concept in archaeology, referring to one of the main hypotheses about the origins of agriculture.
Domestication of Broomcorn
Broomcorn or broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum), also known as proso millet, panic millet, and and wild millet, is today primarily considered a weed suitable for bird seed; but it was one of the earliest domesticated crops in China and the world
Domestication of Rice
When and where was rice first domesticated? Findings suggest it was first cultivated in Asia, before about 10,000 bp.
Animal Domestication: Table of Dates and Places
Domestication is the process of genetically adapting an animal or plant to better suit the needs of human beings; this page includes a definition of domestication and a table of domestication dates for animals in the world.
Chickpeas (Garbanzo beans)
Chickpeas were domesticated about 11,000 years ago in what is now Turkey; but the changes instilled by Neolithic people are unlike most other domesticates.
Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas) Domestication
The sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas) was first domesticated in South or Central America, and from there spread around the world.
Horticulture
The archaeological use of the term horticulture is used to describe a subsistence strategy between hunting and gathering and full fledged agriculture.
Domestication of Goats
Domestic goats (Capra hircus) were domesticated between 10,500-10,800 years ago, in Southwestern Asia.