When you look at the menu in different restaurants today, you will notice they will never be complete without different dishes of chicken. And of course, who would complete the fish and chicken combo, UK? But, do you know how chicken conquered the world?  

According to legends, chicken saved the Western civilizations on the side road of Greece back in the fifth century B.C. it was an Athenian Themicles who saw two chicken fighting on his way to fight the Persian forces. He described the chicken’s aggression as something instinctive, both similar and dissimilar to how humans fight. It was never told how the fight went on, but it was clear those chickens saved the Western civilization when the people began breading, dipping, frying these creatures, saving thousands and thousands of hungry stomachs.  

Chicken is ubiquitous — they are everywhere, from the West, East, and even to the North and Southern parts of the globe, crossing different cultural and geographical boundaries without difficulty. There was even a generation of Briton who though that chicken tikka masala was their national dish. The same thing also happened in China with their Kentucky Fried Chicken. 

Many archeologists believe the chicken was not primarily bred for eating, but for cockfighting. In other cultures, the chicken was considered to be sacred thought to be the symbol of fertility and nurturance. For instance, in Egypt, eggs were hung in temples to ensure bountiful river flood while in Perrian faith, a lusty rooster was a symbol of virility. The Romans used chicken for fortune-telling. In fact, they brought with them a chicken to be behaviorally observed; when the appetite was good, this also meant more likely a victory to them.  

The domesticated chicken has a complicated genealogy stretching back up to 10, 000 years ago. The earliest fossil was found in China dating around 5400 B.C. although it is believed that these fossils came from Southeast Asia. The earliest form of chicken was called Gallus gallus, as what Charles Darwin identified and theorized, and was later confirmed by DNA testing and analysis.  

Going back to Europe, chicken status in this continent diminished when Rome had collapsed. It was only centuries later that fowls such as partridge and geese began adorning the tables in medieval times. It is believed the chicken was first introduced in the New World by Polynesians who were able to reach the coast of South America before Columbus.  

Now, in the 20th and 21st centuries, the chicken still has an important role for humans. At restaurants, even for fine dining and instant eating, chickens are there, ready to be always available, from being roasted to being fried. Their textures and forms have become varied: nuggets, burger patties, and more.  

Furthermore, these chickens do not just play the role of being eaten especially in these modern times.  

In fact, animal rights activists began domesticating chicken as pets again, and never for cooking. Still, a lot of people still use them for cockfighting or for different traditional practices. On the other side, chickens still propagate to feed hungry mouths in different parts of the world.