When did agriculture begin?

The shift from hunting and gathering to farming — the Neolithic Revolution — began roughly 12,000 years ago in the Fertile Crescent, a region stretching across the modern Middle East. Early farmers domesticated wheat, barley, lentils, and animals such as goats and sheep. Agriculture then arose independently in other regions, including China, Mesoamerica, and the Andes. Growing food in one place let people settle into villages, store surplus, and support larger populations, ultimately giving rise to cities, writing, and civilization. It is one of the most transformative changes in human history.