Final answer:
The Agricultural Revolution is a term that encompasses both the Neolithic and Agrarian revolutions, significant periods of innovation and change in farming practices and technologies that allowed for the advancement from subsistence to commercial agriculture.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Agricultural Revolution
The Agricultural Revolution refers to a transformative period in history when humans shifted from hunting and gathering to settling and farming. This period, often called the Neolithic Revolution, began around 10,000 to 12,000 years ago, likely influenced by a warming climate post the last ice age. It marked the start of significant changes in human societies, such as the domestication of plants and animals, the creation of permanent settlements, and eventually the rise of cities and empires.
Later, during the post-Renaissance era known as the Agrarian Revolution, technological advancements such as plows and seed drills, along with new farming practices, greatly enhanced agricultural productivity in Europe. These changes facilitated a transition from subsistence farming to surplus production, which supported the growing urban populations and laid the foundation for the Industrial Revolution.
Innovations in farming techniques continued with the introduction of gasoline-powered machinery like tractors, seed drills, threshers, and combine harvesters, further revolutionizing agricultural practices and increasing food production. With the advent of improved transportation and refrigeration, agricultural products could be shipped globally, reinforcing the change from local to commercial farming.