Final answer:
Early farmers gained the ability to support larger populations and advance economically by creating food surpluses that led to the development of diverse societal roles and the accumulation of wealth, which entrenched social stratifications and lessened leisure time.
Step-by-step explanation:
While hunter gatherers enjoyed a varied diet, characterized by a wide range of plants and animals, early farmers shifted to a reliance on one or a few starchy crops such as rice, wheat, and potatoes. This change brought about a less diverse diet, potentially leading to vitamin and mineral deficiencies. However, the introduction of agriculture provided certain advantages. The farmers gained the ability to sustain larger populations, create a constant supply of food, and the emergence of food surplus that could be stored. This led to new economic possibilities with some people able to become artisans or traders, generating additional wealth, and enabling the creation of more complex social structures with roles beyond food production.
Moreover, as agriculture became more sophisticated and surpluses increased, successful farmers began to accumulate wealth and property. Such wealth typically translated to heightened social status and the eventual stratification of society, with these resources being inherited by descendants which entrenched social divisions. Meanwhile, the requirement for labor specialization in agriculture led to less leisure time compared to the hunter-gatherers, who typically had more free time and arguably a healthier and longer lifespan.