Final answer:
The rise of civilization led to task specialization, population growth, and the development of complex social structures. It also introduced new selection pressures, causing notable genetic and health changes within human populations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rise of civilization allowed for several significant evolutionary opportunities. With the development of agriculture, humans began to settle in one place, which led to the formation of complex societies and the specialization of tasks. This surplus of food and material goods resulted in increased population sizes and the growth of cities. People developed new skills and professions, such as artisans, traders, and religious leaders.
Increased specialization included roles that provided individuals with the time to focus on innovation and culture, giving rise to magnificent buildings, new inventions, and artistic creations without the aid of modern building equipment. The social structure became more complex, with a stratification that included wealthy elites and a working class, which led to distinct gender roles as well.
From a genetic perspective, civilizations created new selection pressures and relaxed some that were dominant among hunter-gatherers, leading to evolutionary developments such as lactase persistence in certain populations. Moreover, the very health of humans was impacted by the lifestyle changes that came with agriculture and sedentary life. The transition to farming life introduced new health challenges, but also created opportunities for human populations to grow and for our species to adapt in novel ways.