Final answer:
Domestication formed the cornerstone of the Neolithic Revolution, making it possible for humans to establish permanent settlements and develop complex societies, thereby being the most important event in the past 13,000 years.
Step-by-step explanation:
According to Source 1, domestication was the most important event in the past 13,000 years of human history because it facilitated the establishment of permanent settlements. The Neolithic Revolution, marked by the shift from hunting and gathering to agriculture, led to more reliable food supplies and population growth. This shift allowed humans to settle in one place and spurred a variety of societal transformations, including labor specialization, the emergence of markets, and the development of complex social structures such as towns, cities, and empires. The domestication of plants and animals dramatically increased the caloric energy available to humans, allowing for significantly larger family units and population levels. As agriculture evolved, societies began to abandon egalitarian hunter-gatherer lifestyles in favor of hierarchical structures, ultimately making way for human civilization.