Here's why early humans domesticated animals:
1. Food and Resources:
* Meat and milk: Animals provided a more reliable and abundant source of protein and other nutrients compared to hunting wild animals.
* Eggs: Chickens and other fowl provided a readily available source of protein.
* Wool and hides: Animals provided materials for clothing, shelter, and tools.
* Manure: Used as fertilizer for crops, and as fuel for fires.
2. Labor and Transportation:
* Draft animals: Oxen, horses, and donkeys could be used to pull plows, carts, and other equipment, making agriculture more efficient.
* Transportation: Horses and other animals were used for transportation, allowing humans to travel farther and faster.
3. Companionship and Security:
* Companionship: Early humans may have developed emotional bonds with some animals, and domesticated animals could provide companionship and emotional support.
* Protection: Dogs were likely domesticated for protection against predators and other threats.
4. Social and Economic Benefits:
* Status: Owning domesticated animals could be a symbol of wealth and status.
* Trade: Domesticated animals and their products could be traded for other goods and services.
5. Ecological Factors:
* Climate change: Some theories suggest that changing climate conditions may have forced early humans to find new food sources, leading to the domestication of animals.
* Population growth: Increasing human populations put pressure on food resources, making domestication a necessity.
The process of domestication was gradual and complex, and it likely happened independently in different parts of the world. Early humans carefully selected animals with desirable traits and bred them, over many generations, to create the domesticated animals we know today.