Final answer:
The agricultural revolution involved the domestication of plants and animals, leading to increased human populations and the development of permanent settlements.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the agricultural revolution, plants and animals were domesticated, which marks a significant transition in human history. The domestication process allowed humans to cultivate plants selectively and breed animals purposefully for various uses. This shift from nomadic hunting and gathering to settled agriculture led to significantly increased human populations due to more reliable and abundant food supplies. As people began to settle and form permanent communities, they also developed different technologies and societal structures, which allowed for the growth of villages, towns, and eventually, cities and regional empires. Contrary to the options that suggest a population decrease due to disease or the increased use of fossil fuels, which are more relevant to the later industrial revolution, the agricultural revolution was characterized by population growth and the establishment of sedentary societies, with no direct connection to the use of fossil fuels.