Final answer:
Cattle domestication was crucial in the transition to agricultural societies, beginning in regions like the Fertile Crescent around 12,000 years ago and later observed in various parts of the world including Africa and Andean South America.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Domestication of Cattle in Early Societies
The domestication of cattle and other livestock was a pivotal event in human history, marking a transition from nomadic hunter-gatherer societies to settled agricultural communities. This process began at different times across various regions of the world.
One of the earliest evidences of animal domestication is found in the Fertile Crescent, where goats and sheep were domesticated around 12,000 years ago. Similarly, in the Andean region, the domestication of camelids and guinea pigs occurred between 7400 BCE and 4400 BCE.
In Africa, archaeological findings suggest the presence of large cattle herds by the ninth century, indicating the importance of cattle in the economy and political power structures of the region. The practice of farming spread across the globe over the millennia, shaping human civilization and enabling the growth of populations and complex societies.