How Did Agriculture Start?

There are a few main theories why agriculture developed. These are climate change, increased population density and for cultural progress.
The first is climate change. Agriculture began around 12500 years ago and around this time the climate was warming up. This meant that the growing of crops would have been easier and in some places possible.
At the time populations were increasing and becoming denser. This meant than hunting and gathering sources were becoming less dependable, and evidence shows some species of game were going extinct at this time. Agriculture provided food for a growing population and was more dependable. However, during droughts problems would have occurred. When agriculture began it would have been practised side by side with hunting and gathering.
Another theory for agriculture is for cultural progress. The free time it gave societies meant they could construct great feats of architecture, as well as detailed art and technology. However, it has been argued that this would have happened as a by product as opposed to a reason for starting architecture.
Agriculture first began in the Fertile Crescent in the Near East an area that corresponds to modern day Syria, Jordan, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Israel and parts of Turkey. Possible reasons for beginning in this area was the climate and fertile soils.
The first crop to be domesticated was wheat, other early crops grown were Barley, Peas Lentils and in Asia rice.

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