The domestication of plants is one of the first steps in moving towards a full-fledged agricultural economy, although the process is by no means a one-directional movement. A plant is said to be domesticated when its native characteristics are altered such that it cannot grow and reproduce without human intervention. Domestication is thought to be the result of the development of a symbiotic relationship between the plants and humans, called co-evolution, because plants and human behaviors evolve to suit one another. In the simplest form of co-evolution, a human harvests a given plant selectively, based on the preferred characteristics, such as the largest fruits, and uses the seeds from the largest fruits to plant the next year.
The following table is compiled from a variety of sources, and detailed descriptions of the domesticates will be added to as I get to them. Thanks again to Ron Hicks at Ball State University for his suggestions and information.
See the Animal Domestication table for the latest on animals.
Plant Domestication
| Plant | Where Domesticated | Date |
| Fig trees | Near East | 9000 BC |
| Emmer wheat | Near East | 9000 BC |
| Einkorn wheat | Near East | 8500 BC |
| Barley | Near East | 8500 BC |
| Chickpea | Anatolia | 8500 BC |
| Bottle gourd | Asia | 8000 BC |
| Rice | Asia | 8000 BC |
| Potatoes | Andes Mountains | 8000 BC |
| Beans | South America | 8000 BC |
| Squash (Cucurbita pepo) | Central America | 8000 BC |
| Maize | Central America | 7000 BC |
| Water Chestnut | Asia | 7000 BC |
| Perilla | Asia | 7000 BC |
| Burdock | Asia | 7000 BC |
| Broomcorn millet | East Asia | 6000 BC |
| Bread wheat | Near East | 6000 BC |
| Manioc/Cassava | South America | 6000 BC |
| Chenopodium | South America | 5500 BC |
| Date Palm | Southwest Asia | 5000 BC |
| Avocado | Central America | 5000 BC |
| Cotton | Southwest Asia | 5000 BC |
| Bananas | Island Southeast Asia | 5000 BC |
| Beans | Central America | 5000 BC |
| Chili peppers | South America | 4000 BC |
| Amaranth | Central America | 4000 BC |
| Watermelon | Near East | 4000 BC |
| Olives | Near East | 4000 BC |
| Cotton | Peru | 4000 BC |
| Pomegranate | Iran | 3500 BC |
| Hemp | East Asia | 3500 BC |
| Cotton | Mesoamerica | 3000 BC |
| Azuki Bean | East Asia | 3000 BC |
| Coca | South America | 3000 BC |
| Sago Palm | Southeast Asia | 3000 BC |
| Squash (Cucurbita pepo ovifera ) | North America | 3000 BC |
| Sunflower | Central America | 2600 BC |
| Rice | India | 2500 BC |
| Sweet Potato | Peru | 2500 BC |
| Pearl millet | Africa | 2500 BC |
| Marsh elder (Iva annua) | North America | 2400 BC |
| Sorghum | Africa | 2000 BC |
| Sunflower | North America | 2000 BC |
| Saffron | Mediterranean | 1900 BC |
| Chenopodium | China | 1900 BC |
| Chenopodium | North America | 1800 BC |
| Chocolate | Mexico | 1600 BC |
| Coconut | Southeast Asia | 1500 BC |
| Rice | Africa | 1500 BC |
| Tobacco | South America | 1000 BC |
| Eggplant | Asia | 1st century BC |
| Vanilla | Central America | 14th century AD |
