human
I want to know more about the history of the hamster.
assistant
The first known use of a hamster was in Ancient Egypt, where they were kept as pets and for food. They are believed to have been bred from rats, and were used by the ancient Greeks and Romans for their fur and meat. Hamsters were also used as war animals during the Middle Ages, when they were trained to attack enemies. During the 18th century, they became popular as pets, especially among children. Today, hamsters are still popular as pets, and are often seen in pet stores and sold online.