Final answer:
Sociology emerged as a discipline in the 19th century in Western Europe, during a time of great social and political changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution. It has since spread to other areas of the world, with contributions from scholars from various regions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The discipline of sociology emerged in the 19th century in Western Europe, during a time of great social and political changes brought about by the Industrial Revolution. These changes led people to question traditional institutions and sparked the need for a new perspective to understand society. Sociology first developed in Western Europe, but it has since spread to other areas of the world, with contributions from scholars and researchers from various regions.