Animal domestication timeline

Animal domestication is closely associated with sustainability through its links to plant domestication, food and transport systems, and social organization.

There are 148 mammals in the world weighing over 45 kilos (100 lbs) and around 1900 14 had been domesticated. Seven of these domesticated species were from SW Asia, and of the world’s five most important domesticated animals (sheep, goats, cows, pigs, and horses) only the horse was absent from this region. Five were present in East Asia, one in South America and none in North America, Australia, and sub-Saharan Africa. This is a powerful argument for the influence of resources, especially biological ones (rather than cultural factors), on the emergence of agriculture, there being a strong correlation between the availability of domesticable plants and animals and the dates of origin of agriculture and herding.

Animal domestication is a practice that has been carried out by humans for thousands of years, dating back to the Neolithic era. The process of domesticating animals involves selectively breeding them for specific traits and purposes, ultimately leading to their dependence on humans for food, shelter, and protection. This practice has had a profound impact on human civilization, shaping the way we live, work, and interact with the natural world.

The earliest evidence of animal domestication dates back to approximately 10,000 years ago in the Near East, where hunter-gatherer societies began to transition to an agrarian lifestyle. One of the first animals to be domesticated was the dog, which played a crucial role in aiding humans in hunting and protecting their settlements. Dogs were gradually domesticated from wild wolves through a process of selective breeding, with the most docile and cooperative animals being chosen for breeding.

The domestication of livestock animals such as sheep, goats, and cattle followed shortly after the domestication of dogs. These animals were valued for their ability to provide meat, milk, wool, and labor, making them essential to the development of agricultural societies. The process of domesticating livestock animals was facilitated by their social and hierarchical nature, which made them more amenable to human control and management.

In addition to domesticating animals for practical purposes, humans also began to domesticate animals for companionship and cultural significance. Cats, for example, were domesticated in ancient Egypt to help control pests such as rodents, as well as for their association with the goddess Bastet. Horses were domesticated for transportation and warfare, revolutionizing the way humans traveled and waged war.

The process of animal domestication was not limited to the Near East, as similar developments were taking place in other regions of the world. In East Asia, for example, pigs were domesticated around 8,000 years ago for their meat and fat, leading to the development of complex agricultural societies in the region. In the Americas, llamas and alpacas were domesticated by indigenous civilizations such as the Inca for their wool and transportation abilities.

As human societies expanded and evolved, so too did the practice of animal domestication. New technologies such as the plow and the wheel allowed humans to cultivate larger areas of land and transport goods more efficiently, leading to an increased demand for domesticated animals. This in turn led to the development of specialized breeds of animals for specific purposes, such as draft horses for plowing fields and dairy cows for milk production.

The Industrial Revolution of the 18th and 19th centuries further revolutionized the practice of animal domestication, as new machines and technologies replaced traditional methods of agriculture. Livestock breeds were selectively bred for increased productivity and efficiency, leading to the development of modern breeds such as the Holstein cow and the Cornish chicken. The advent of refrigeration and transportation systems also allowed for the mass production and distribution of animal products on a global scale.

Today, animal domestication continues to play a crucial role in human society, with billions of domesticated animals raised for food, labor, and companionship worldwide. However, the practice of animal domestication has come under scrutiny in recent years, with concerns about animal welfare, environmental impact, and sustainability leading to calls for more ethical and sustainable practices.

BCE

~14-30,000 – Dog undetermined
8500 – Sheep Western Asia
8500 – Cat Fertile Crescent
8000 – Goats Western Asia
7000 – Pigs Western Asia
7000 – Cattle Eastern Sahara
6000 – Chicken Asia
5000 – Guinea pig Andes Mountains
6000 – Taurine Cattle Western Asia
5000 – Zebu Indus Valley
5000 – Llama Andes Mountains
4500 – Alpaca Andes Mountains
4000 – Donkey Northeast Africa
3600 – Horse Kazakhstan
3500 – Silkworm China
3500 – Bactrian camel China or Mongolia
3000 – Honey Bee Near East or Western Asia
3000 – Dromedary camel Saudi Arabia
3000 – Banteng Thailand
3000 – Yak Tibet
2500 – Water buffalo Pakistan
2500 – Duck Western Asia
1500 – Goose Germany
1500 – Mongoose? Egypt
1000 – Reindeer Siberia
300-200 – Stingless bee Mexico

CE

100 BC-100 AD – Turkey – Mexico
100 – Muscovy duck – South America
1000 – Scarlet Macaw(?) – Central America
1866 – Ostrich – South Africa

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First published on the internet – 1 March 2019