Question

Summarize what is known about animal domestication in the Americas. Name at least three domesticated species, highlight what purposes these domesticated animals served, the rough timeline and location of domestication, and the major differences in animal domestication between the New and Old World. You do not need to cover every region, culture, or site for which the book discusses animal domestication, but a full answer should name at least one site and culture for each animal you present.

Answer 1

Animal domestication in the Americas began around 10,000 years ago during the Neolithic Age. Domesticated species include sheep and goats, chickens, horses, and llamas. The timeline and location of domestication differ between the New and Old World, with the Andean region being an early site for plant and animal domestication in the Americas.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the Americas, animal domestication began around 10,000 years ago during the Neolithic Age. Some of the domesticated species in this region include sheep and goats in the Near East, chickens in south Asia, horses in central Asia, and llamas in Peru. These domesticated animals served various purposes, such as providing food, clothing, and transportation.

The timeline and location of domestication differ between the New and Old World. In the Americas, the earliest evidence for plant and animal domestication has been found in the Andean region, where the domestication of camelids like llamas and guanacos for meat and wool may have begun around 7400 BCE. Edible plants like squash and bottle gourds were cultivated around 8000 BCE. On the other hand, the Old World saw the domestication of animals like cattle, horses, sheep, goats, and chickens.

Overall, the major differences in animal domestication between the New and Old World involve the specific species domesticated, the timeline and location of domestication, and the purposes these domesticated animals served.