Question

According to Jared Diamond, our worst mistake was the plow, farming, and irrigation. Which of the following were trade-offs for this technology?

A) Increased food production, stable settlements, and population growth

B) Reduced food production, nomadic lifestyle, and small population

C) Improved health, longer lifespan, and social stability

D) Environmental conservation, reduced labor, and increased leisure time

Answer 1

The trade-offs for the technology of the plow, farming, and irrigation, as proposed by Jared Diamond, included increased food production, stable settlements, and population growth, which facilitated the rise of early civilizations and social stratification.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to Jared Diamond, our worst mistake was the adoption of the plow, farming, and irrigation. The trade-offs for this technology, which led to the development of agriculture, were increased food production, stable settlements, and population growth. These changes began with simple technologies such as a pointed stick to break up the soil and advanced to the use of animals to pull plows. This allowed families to produce enough food to not only sustain themselves but also to feed others. As a result, people began to settle in one place, leading to the development of early civilizations with food surpluses, labor specialization, and more complex social structures. The shift from hunting and gathering to agriculture meant that not everyone needed to farm, leading to some individuals becoming artisans or traders, thereby generating wealth and social divisions.