Final answer:
Farming brought about economic risks such as debt cycles, health risks including the spread of diseases, and environmental impacts like land degradation. Despite this, it also created new opportunities for specialization and technology development, altering human societies fundamentally.
Step-by-step explanation:
Throughout history, farming has exposed societies to various types of risks. The Han Dynasty witnessed a cycle of debt for farmers who, after a long winter, were forced to borrow seed at high interest rates, potentially leading to the loss of their lands and freedom. Generations later, the introduction of industrial farming and land expansion strategies pursued during good growing conditions and high commodity prices sometimes led to prolonged economic hardship post-World War I, as prices collapsed and soils became degraded due to overuse. Health risks associated with farming include the spread of diseases such as malaria, which proliferated as farming practices put humans in closer contact with disease vectors like mosquitoes.
Environmental impacts of farming have also been profound. Soil erosion, loss of organic matter, and soil salinity are some of the main contributors to land degradation. Yet, farming created opportunities as well: it led to the development of new jobs, technologies, and economies, changing the human experience entirely. As people no longer needed to hunt and gather, societies became stationary, leading to higher population densities and ultimately, increased specialization of labor. Farming required more labor hours, especially from women, and shifted the dynamics of work and leisure within agricultural societies.