Final answer:
The three important factors that contributed to the shift to sedentism and domestication were agriculture, the domestication of animals, and the use of language. These factors led to stable food supplies, specialization of labor, trade, and eventually the establishment of permanent settlements and organized communities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The shift to a sedentary lifestyle and the domestication of animals and plants, known as the Neolithic Revolution, was influenced by three important factors:
- Agriculture: The deliberate cultivation of edible plants allowed for more stable and abundant food supplies, enabling population growth and a more settled way of life.
- Domestication of animals: Humans tamed and bred livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats for food, clothing, and transportation, contributing to a surplus of goods and enabling trade among different societies.
- Use of language: While not directly related to the practice of agriculture or domestication, the use of language undoubtedly played a role in the coordination, planning, and transmission of knowledge required for these practices to take root and spread across societies.
As permanent settlements were established, people could focus on labor specialization, which led to the development of specialized occupations and trade. This surplus of goods and the ability to trade were instrumental in the formation of early urbanization patterns. The sustainability of food resources also provided the impetus for political entities and regional empires to emerge.