Transition from Foraging to Farming

The lecture explores the transition from foraging to agriculture, a pivotal change in human history. It examines why humans adopted agriculture, its impact on societies, and how it varied across regions. The lecture discusses the differences between foraging and farming, the role of symbiosis in agriculture, and the gradual spread of farming practices. It introduces a five-step model to explain the agricultural transition, highlighting the influence of climate change and population pressures. The lecture concludes with global examples of how agriculture emerged in different regions.

Why did humans transition from foraging to farming?

• To increase population density

• To explore new territories

• To reduce physical labor

• To avoid predators

What is the term used to describe the process of spreading into new environmental niches?

• Intensification

• Extensification

• Domestication

• Sedentism

Which of the following is an example of a symbiotic relationship in nature?

• Lions and zebras

• Wolves and deer

• Cleaner Ras fish and other fish

• Humans and corn

What was the first species to be domesticated by humans?

• Corn

• Wheat

• Sheep

• Dog

Where was the archaeological site of Ohalo 2 located?

• Turkey

• Israel

• China

• Peru

What is the first step in the five-step model explaining the transition to agriculture?

• Climate change

• Population pressure

• Domestication of animals

• Pre-adaptation of humans

Which cereal marked the beginning of the transition from foraging to farming in West Asia?

• Emma wheat

• Rice

• Millet

• Corn

What led to the problem of overpopulation among affluent foragers?

• Climate change

• Increased sedentism

• Lack of resources

• Migration

Which region is associated with the early domestication of millet?

• Southwest Asia

• Central China

• Northern Australia

• South America

What was the earliest crop species domesticated in the Americas?

• Corn

• Rice

• Potato

• Squash