Final answer:
The 'Broad Spectrum Revolution' marks the transition from a hunting and gathering economy to one that is more diverse and resource-based, representing the foundation of the Agricultural Revolution. This transformation, referenced by Kent Flannery, led to the development of the first true economies and had significant impacts on human societies and the environment, ultimately leading to modern civilization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The transition from hunting and gathering to an agricultural lifestyle marks a significant period in human history known as the Agricultural Revolution. This gradual shift was influenced by environmental changes such as the warming of the Earth and the retreat of the glaciers approximately 17,000 years ago, which led to the emergence of new ecosystems and resources. Kent Flannery referred to this transformation where foragers began to adopt a more generalized economy and relied less on large animals, focusing instead on a diverse range of resources, as the "Broad Spectrum Revolution", a term that encompasses the increased reliance on a wide variety of smaller game animals, plants, and aquatic resources. As agriculture began to develop around the world, it led to the creation of the first true economies, marked by the domestication of plants and animals, permanent settlements, and eventually, the rise of civilization.
Hunting and gathering societies did not typically engage in trade due to the scarcity of goods, but with the development of agriculture, communities could produce a surplus that enabled trade, specialization of labor, and more complex social structures. These changes had profound effects on human social organization, lifestyle, and the environment. This period marked the beginning of humanity's extensive impact on the world, eventually leading to the diverse, interconnected global society we live in today. The understanding and respect for the natural world found in earlier cultures is now being revisited in our modern context as a part of the biorenaissance.