Animals were first domesticated for a variety of reasons, including:
* Food: Animals were domesticated to provide a source of food for humans.
* Labor: Animals were used for labor, such as pulling carts, plowing fields, and carrying loads.
* Transportation: Animals were used to transport people and goods.
* Protection: Animals were used for protection, such as guarding homes and livestock.
* Companionship: Animals were also domesticated for companionship and emotional support.
* Science: Animals were domesticated to study biology, genetics, and animal behavior
When were animals first domesticated?
The first animals to be domesticated were dogs, which were domesticated from wolves around 15,000 years ago. Other animals were domesticated later, including:
* Cats: Cats were domesticated from wildcats around 9,000 years ago.
* Cattle: Cattle were domesticated from wild aurochs around 8,000 years ago.
* Pigs: Pigs were domesticated from wild boars around 7,000 years ago.
* Sheep: Sheep were domesticated from wild mouflon around 6,000 years ago.
* Goats: Goats were domesticated from wild ibex around 5,000 years ago.
* Horses: Horses were domesticated from wild Przewalski's horses around 3,500 years ago.
* Chickens: Chickens were domesticated from wild red junglefowl around 3,000 years ago.
* Ducks: Ducks were domesticated from wild mallards around 2,500 years ago.
* Geese: Geese were domesticated from wild greylag geese around 2,000 years ago.