Final answer:
The Neolithic Revolution describes humanity's transition from hunting and gathering to agriculture about twelve thousand years ago. This shift allowed populations to settle, led to labor specialization, and prompted both social stratification and urbanization. The revolution occurred independently worldwide, with each region growing surplus food to support larger populations and the development of early civilizations.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Origins of Food Production and the Neolithic Revolution
The transition from a lifestyle of intensive hunting and gathering to one based on food production marks a pivotal point in human history, known as the Neolithic Revolution. This period, which began approximately twelve thousand years ago, saw the development of agriculture, which allowed human populations to adopt a settled way of life. The deliberate cultivation of edible plants and domestication of animals provided a more abundant and reliable food supply, leading to significant population growth and the establishment of permanent settlements.
The rise of agriculture brought about monumental changes in human society. It necessitated labor specialization and instigated social stratification, as some people could produce surpluses and gain material wealth. This wealth accumulation created a foundation for complex societies and marked the first true economies. Notably, the revolution did not occur simultaneously worldwide. Instead, it happened independently in different regions, each domesticating local plants and animals, such as grains in the Near East, maize in Mesoamerica, and rice in China.
Early civilizations subsequently emerged where surplus production led to increased family sizes and rapid population growth. Larger populations facilitated the development of cities and advanced societal structures based on specialized roles, exchange systems, and new forms of communal governance. This transition from mobile hunter-gatherer groups to agriculturally-based urban societies catalyzed the advancement of human civilizations.