Approximately how many years ago was corn domesticated?

Corn, or maize, was domesticated approximately 9,000 years ago in what is now Mexico. This process involved early agricultural societies selectively breeding wild grasses, primarily teosinte, to develop the larger, more productive corn plants we recognize today. The shift from foraging to farming marked a significant transformation in human societies, allowing for more stable food supplies and contributing to population growth and the rise of complex civilizations.

The timing of maize domestication is crucial in understanding the development of agriculture and the subsequent social changes that occurred in the Americas. Other options suggest alternative timeframes that do not align with the established archaeological and genetic evidence supporting the domestication timeline. The 9,000-year estimate is widely accepted based on studies of ancient agricultural practices and remains. Thus, it reflects the early human innovation and adaptation that laid the foundations for modern agricultural systems.