Final answer:
The Neolithic Revolution and the advent of agriculture first occurred in Mesopotamia, marking it as the cradle of civilization. Settlements along the Yangtze River valley in China were among the first to develop rice agriculture. Mesopotamia, part of the Fertile Crescent, was a hub for early technological and civilizational developments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Neolithic Revolution first took place in Mesopotamia. The development of agriculture and the subsequent rise of civilizations can be seen in a few specific areas around the world, historically referred to as the "cradles of civilization." Among them, Mesopotamia stands out as the very first location where the invention of agriculture led to the emergence of the technologies and organizational forms that characterize a civilization. This includes advancements such as mathematics, astronomy, engineering, the invention of cuneiform writing, and the rise of complex political structures like kingdoms and empires.
In terms of agricultural development during the Neolithic era, different settlements concentrated on growing various crops suited to their regions. Rice agriculture, for instance, began in settlements along the Yangtze River valley in China around 8000 BCE. Conversely, in Mesopotamia, along the banks of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, humans cultivated crops that enabled the growth of a significant civilization. This region, along with southern Turkey and Israel, formed what is known as the Fertile Crescent, where agriculture first flourished.