Origins of Domestication: Transition to Farming

This lecture explores the origins of domestication, focusing on the transition from foraging to farming. It delves into early examples of domestic architecture, such as circular to rectangular structures found in various ancient settlements like Catal Hüyük and Jericho. The lecture discusses the Neolithic cultures of the Near East, including Natufian, Sultanian, Halafian, Hassuna, Samarra, and Ubaid. It also covers the use of fire in agriculture, the wetland thesis proposed by James C. Scott, and the challenges faced by early farmers. The instructor analyzes the shift towards sedentism and agriculture, emphasizing the impact of crowding, epidemics, and the cultivation of founder crops. Additionally, the lecture examines the reluctance of some societies to fully embrace farming and the significance of house forms in early settlements.