Final answer:
The term 'domestication' best fits the context of technological developments that preceded the emergence of civilization in the Middle East, as it refers to the process that made agriculture possible, leading to larger, settled populations and the rise of complex societies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The emergence of civilization in the Middle East was preceded by other technological developments in addition to the domestication of agriculture. The term that best fits this context from the options provided (invention, innovation, revolution, domestication) is domestication. This process involved the selective breeding and cultivation of plants and animals to make them more suitable for human use, which was a fundamental step toward the development of more complex societies.
Agriculture and the domestication of plants and animals allowed for the growth of stable settlements and eventually led to the rise of civilizations by supporting larger populations and enabling labor specialization. In Mesopotamia, the domestication of plants such as wheat and barley, along with technological improvements like the plow and wheel, set the stage for the birth of civilization and the development of scientific advances and social structures.