How did the Agricultural Revolution change the course of human society?
More plentiful food!
Less time spent hunting and gathering
More time for arts, laws, science, technology, rituals, and religion.
Which one? 10,000 BC, the Arab Agricultural Revolution, or the 18th-19th century?
https://www.bing.com/search?q=the+agriculturual+revolution&form=EDGTCT&qs=PF&cvid=ecb24fa02c29409fb5b9f2c170a08cc6&cc=US&setlang=en-US
Reed's right. I jumped to a conclusion that you meant the Agricultural Revolution of about 4,000 B.C. It could also be the 20th century Agricultural Revolution in China.
the 18th-19th century
The Agricultural Revolution, also known as the Neolithic Revolution, was a significant turning point in human history. It brought about several changes that profoundly impacted human societies.
To understand how the Agricultural Revolution changed the course of human society, let's first discuss what the revolution was. The Agricultural Revolution refers to the transition from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to one based on agriculture and domestication of plants and animals. This shift occurred around 10,000 years ago in various parts of the world, independently in different regions like the Fertile Crescent, China, Mesoamerica, and others.
Prior to the Agricultural Revolution, humans relied on hunting and gathering for survival. They moved from place to place, following the availability of food sources. However, with the advent of agriculture, humans began to settle in one place and started cultivating crops and raising animals. This change had several profound effects on human society:
1. Sedentary Lifestyle: One of the most significant changes was the shift from a nomadic, mobile lifestyle to a settled, sedentary one. Humans started living in permanent settlements, as agriculture required consistent time and effort invested in cultivating and protecting crops.
2. Surplus Food Production: Agriculture allowed humans to produce more food than hunting and gathering, leading to surplus food production. This surplus led to the development of food storage techniques and the ability to support larger populations, as well as the specialization of labor.
3. Population Growth: With a stable and surplus food supply, populations began to grow rapidly. Settlements evolved into villages, towns, and eventually cities. This population growth laid the foundation for the development of complex societies, including the rise of governments, social hierarchies, and specialized occupations.
4. Technological Advancements: Agricultural societies introduced new technologies to support farming practices. Humans invented tools, such as plows and sickles, which increased efficiency and productivity in agriculture. This prompted further innovations and developments, facilitating the progress of human civilization.
5. Social Stratification: As societies grew more complex, social stratification emerged. People specialized in various occupations beyond just farming, such as craftsmen, traders, religious leaders, and rulers. Social classes formed, with elites and commoners, and this led to more hierarchical structures within society.
6. Environmental Impact: The transition to agriculture also had a lasting impact on the environment. Humans cleared forests and modified landscapes to make way for farmland, altering ecosystems. Additionally, the presence of domesticated animals heightened the risk of disease transmission between humans and animals.
Overall, the Agricultural Revolution had a profound and transformative impact on human society. It elevated humans from small, mobile groups to settled societies, leading to population growth, technological advancements, societal stratification, and significant changes in the relationship between humans and their environment.