Where did the cultivation of wheat, barley, and flax begin?

The cultivation of wheat, barley, and flax is widely recognized as having originated in the Fertile Crescent region of the Middle East, which is part of Asia. This area, encompassing parts of modern-day Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, and Jordan, provided an ideal environment for the early development of agriculture due to its rich soils and favorable climate.

Archaeological evidence shows that by around 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, humans in this region began to domesticate these grains, leading to significant agricultural advancements that supported the growth of early societies. This foundational shift towards farming marked the transition from nomadic lifestyles to settled agricultural communities. Consequently, the influence of these early agricultural practices spread over time to other regions, but their origins are firmly rooted in Asia, specifically within the context of the Fertile Crescent.