First Farmers: The Origins of Agricultural Societies by Peter Bellwood

First Farmers examines the archaeological and anthropological evidence behind humanity's transition from hunter-gatherer societies to agricultural civilizations. Peter Bellwood traces this pivotal shift across multiple regions—the Fertile Crescent, China, Mesoamerica, and beyond—revealing how domestication of plants and animals fundamentally reshaped human settlement, social organization, and culture. Essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the deep origins of modern civilization and the forces that drove one of history's most consequential transformations.