Final answer:
Early humans endured sacrifices such as a sedentary lifestyle and health challenges due to the transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture. This included longer working hours and increased susceptibility to diseases. The shift also led to social stratification and changes in land usage.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sacrifices endured by early humans due to the introduction of farming, the plow, and agriculture were numerous and multifaceted. While it may seem that agriculture primarily brought benefits, including a more reliable food supply and the possibility for population growth, there were also significant drawbacks. One such sacrifice was a sedentary lifestyle and health challenges. This new way of life led to longer working hours, which meant less leisure time. Moreover, settling in one place increased exposure to diseases, both from domesticated animals and from living in larger, more densely populated areas. The agricultural lifestyle also introduced social stratification, leading to the emergence of hierarchical societies and increased social divisions.
Furthermore, the shift to a sedentary lifestyle changed relationships with the land. People began to view land as a resource to be owned and cultivated, which contributed to the development of private property and eventually complex social and political structures. Health challenges such as malnutrition and diseases also became more prevalent due to the more limited diet and close living quarters associated with early agricultural societies.
In conclusion, the introduction of systematic agriculture brought about significant changes, not all of which were positive. While it facilitated the development of human civilization, it also imposed new kinds of labor and challenges on the societies that adopted it.