By scientific consensus based on archaeological evidence, it is assumed that seed rice was first domesticated in the Yangtze River basin of China between 13,500 and 8,200 years ago. It reached Korea and Japan between 3,500 and 1,200 BC.
From this first crop, migration and trade spread rice around the world. Initially to much of eastern Asia, then further abroad, and eventually to the Americas as part of the Columbian exchange.
The lesser-known African rice (Oryza glaberrima) was independently domesticated in Africa between 3000 and 3500 years ago.
