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Domestication

Explorer · ages 7 and underAdapted from Wikipedia
A male Red Junglefowl, a wild bird ancestor of domestic chickens, seen in its natural habitat at Kaeng Krachan National Park in Thailand.

Domestication

Domestication is when people take care of animals and plants to help both of them. It is a slow process that takes many years. Over time, animals and plants change a little to be easier for people to care for.

The first animal to be domesticated was the dog, more than 15,000 years ago. People also took care of animals like sheep, cows, and chickens. These animals helped people get food and stay warm.

Plants were also domesticated. People grew crops like wheat, barley, and rice. These plants gave people food and made life easier.

Some insects, like leafcutter ants, also take care of fungi. They grow fungi to eat, showing how many living things help each other.

Domestication changed how people live. It helped us grow more food and stay together in bigger groups. It also changed the world around us, but it brought many good things for people and animals.

Pictures

Timeline showing when different animals were first domesticated by humans throughout history.
People from the Li ethnic group planting rice in Hainan Island, China, in 1962.
Comparison of a wolf skull and a chihuahua skull showing how selective breeding changes animal traits over generations.
Scientific illustrations of Kerria lacca insects from a historical entomology book, showing various life stages for educational purposes.
Snails for sale at a bustling food market in Marrakesh, Morocco.
An ancient Egyptian painting showing people and cows, illustrating daily life and farming in ancient Egypt.
A close-up of Einkorn wheat spikelets, an ancient type of grain from Germany.
Different types of mushrooms like crimini, portabella, and button mushrooms on display at a USDA farmers market event.
A wheat harvest in Idaho, showing farmers using machinery to collect crops from a golden field.
Silkworms preparing to spin their silk cocoon, an important step in making silk.
A historical photograph capturing a scene from Iran, published in National Geographic in 1921.

Keep exploring

Wheat
Barley

This article is a child-friendly adaptation of the Wikipedia article on Domestication, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Images from Wikimedia Commons. Tap any image to view credits and license.