Final answer:
Agriculture developed in response to rising population demands, providing a reliable food supply and enabling the growth of larger communities and early civilizations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Settled agriculture developed primarily as a response to an increased population. The Neolithic Revolution, which marked the transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture, allowed humans to have a more reliable food supply and supported the growth of larger communities. With the ability to produce surplus food, populations were able to engage in labor specialization, leading to the development of early civilizations with distinct social structures and the necessity for systems of exchange to sustain non-farming city populations. This transition also set the stage for the urbanization process and the shift from rural to urban living.