Final answer:
The Neolithic Revolution was driven by environmental stability and population pressure, leading to agricultural advancements, domestication of animals, and the formation of permanent settlements.
Step-by-step explanation:
Two primary factors best explain the Neolithic changes leading to domestication and sedentism as a global phenomenon: Environmental stability and Population pressure. Environmental stability facilitated the development of agriculture as the climate became more predictable after the last ice age. This shift allowed humans to cultivate plants continuously, leading to a surplus of food and enabling sedentary lifestyles. Population pressure necessitated increased food production; as the population grew, hunting and gathering could no longer sustain larger communities. The need for stable food sources led to cultivation of plants and domestication of animals, promoting permanent settlements.
The consequences of these changes set the direction for future cultural developments. Environmental stability allowed people to settle and form communities, which led to specialization of labor and the eventual establishment of early civilizations. Population growth increased the demand for resources, pushing societies towards effective food production strategies, like agriculture and animal domestication. These changes laid the foundations for organized communities, which later evolved into political entities and larger empires.