Access to water directly helped early humans develop agriculture. Before about 11,000 years ago, people used to hunt wild animals and gather plants in the environment they lived. At a particular time in history, humans began to grow specific plants. This was made possible by the availability of water, which allowed early humans to irrigate their crops and produce larger yields. Another important factor that helped early humans develop agriculture was the domestication of plants and animals. This allowed early humans to control their food supply and put down roots in one place.