Settled agriculture was first seen in ancient China around which approximate period?

Introduction / Context:
The shift from hunting gathering to settled agriculture was one of the most important developments in human history. Understanding when different civilizations began farming is a key part of world history and human geography. This question focuses on ancient China and asks at what approximate time settled agriculture began to appear there. Knowing that early Neolithic farming in China dates back to around 8000 BC helps place Chinese civilization in a broader timeline of early agricultural societies such as those of Mesopotamia and the Indus Valley.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The focus is on ancient China and the beginning of settled agriculture there.
• Options cover a range of dates from 15000 BC to 1200 BC.
• The question asks for an approximate period, not an exact year.
• We rely on widely accepted archaeological and historical evidence.

Concept / Approach:
Archaeological evidence from sites in the Yellow River and Yangtze River valleys suggests that early farming communities in China developed during the Neolithic period. Rice cultivation in the Yangtze basin and millet farming in the Yellow River region appeared around 8000 BC. This pre dates classical Chinese dynasties by many millennia and shows that agriculture emerged relatively early in East Asia. Therefore, among the provided options, 8000 BC best matches the generally accepted timeframe for the earliest settled agriculture in China.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that human societies moved from hunting gathering to agriculture during the Neolithic period in several parts of the world. Step 2: Remember that in China, early farming villages in the Yellow River and Yangtze River regions can be dated to roughly 8000 BC. Step 3: Note that 3000 BC is much later and corresponds more to early historical dynasties and urbanization, not the first appearance of farming. Step 4: Recognize that 15000 BC is too early for clear evidence of settled agriculture in China; people were still mainly hunter gatherers at that time. Step 5: Compare the options and identify 8000 BC as the best approximate date for the beginnings of settled agriculture in China.

Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by recalling that many history and geography sources state that agriculture in East Asia, particularly rice farming, began around 8000 BC. Sites such as Hemudu and Jiahu are often dated to this period and show evidence of systematic cultivation, domestication of grains, and permanent or semi permanent settlements. In contrast, 3000 BC is associated more with organized states and bronze age developments. This cross checking of archaeological chronology confirms that 8000 BC is the most appropriate answer from the list.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
6000 BC: While farming was certainly present by this time, evidence points to an earlier start, closer to 8000 BC, so 6000 BC is a bit late for the first appearance of settled agriculture in China.
3000 BC: This date is associated with later prehistoric and early historic cultures rather than the earliest beginnings of farming in China.
15000 BC: This is far too early in the Palaeolithic period when hunting and gathering dominated, and there is no strong evidence for established farming communities at that time in China.
1200 BC: By this date, complex states and dynasties were already forming, so agriculture had long been established, making this option clearly too late.

Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to assume that agriculture started everywhere around 3000 BC because that is when many ancient civilizations appear in history textbooks. This leads students to choose 3000 BC even when earlier Neolithic evidence exists. Another pitfall is to underestimate how early the Neolithic revolution occurred in different regions. To avoid these errors, remember that agriculture in China, like in Mesopotamia, has very ancient roots, often placed in the range of 8000 BC or earlier. Fixing this approximate period in your memory will help you answer related questions more confidently.

Final Answer:
Settled agriculture in ancient China was first seen around 8000 BC.