Final answer:
The first domesticated item among the listed options is 'c-potatoes', which were possibly domesticated between 8000 and 6000 BCE, predating the domestication of maize, pigs, dogs, and cows.
Step-by-step explanation:
The domestication of animals and plants is a historical process that has taken place over thousands of years. When we ask which of the following was the first to be domesticated? a-dogs b-pigs c-potatoes d-cows e-maize, it's important to look at the archaeological evidence to make a determination.
The earliest domesticated animals appear to be dogs, with some evidence suggesting their domestication could have occurred as far back as 20,000 to 40,000 years ago. However, among the options provided, the first domesticated plants were likely potatoes, with genetic testing indicating that this could have happened between 8000 and 6000 BCE. This predates the cultivation of maize in central Mexico, which began around 5000 to 3000 BCE.
Thus, according to the information provided, the first on the list to be domesticated is 'c-potatoes'. The domestication of plants like maize, and animals such as pigs and cows, followed at later stages in human history.