Question

The Neolithic Revolution also changed the way people lived. In place of scattered hunting communities, the farmers lived in villages. Near groups of villages, small towns grew up, and later cities too. Thus, the Neolithic Revolution made civilization itself possible. (The Ancient Near East) Within the villages, towns, and cities, people could specialize in the sort of work they could do best. Many stopped producing food at all, making instead tools and other goods that farmers needed, and for which they gave them food in exchange. This process of exchange led to trade and traders, and the growth of trade made it possible for people to specialize even more.

Identify a central cause of the changes described in the excerpt above.
A) War between city-states increased
B) Disease in neighboring regions prevented people in the Near East from migrating
C) Religious beliefs inspired nomads to herd
D) Hunting and gathering was an unreliable way of obtaining food compared.

Answer 1

The central cause of the changes described in the excerpt is the shift from hunting and gathering to agriculture.

Step-by-step explanation:

The central cause of the changes described in the excerpt above is the shift from hunting and gathering to agriculture. The adoption of agriculture and the domestication of animals allowed for larger populations, surpluses of food, and labor specialization. This led to the formation of villages, towns, and cities, where people could specialize in different tasks and engage in trade and exchange. The growth of trade further promoted specialization and the development of civilizations.