Final answer:
The major shift to food producers significantly transformed human societies during the Neolithic Revolution, leading to permanent settlements, the rise of social hierarchies, and labor specialization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The major shift that occurred when human societies transitioned from being hunter-gatherers to food producers practicing simple farming is known as the Neolithic Revolution. This was not merely a technological change but a transformation that brought many changes in lifestyles with the development of permanent settlements, a structured hierarchy, and other forms of social complexity.
Humans began to alter the features of plants through selective planting and harvesting, which over time allowed them to cultivate crops that were bigger, tastier, and more nutritious. This advancement supported larger groups of people, led to food surpluses, and enabled labor specialization, as some people could focus on crafts and trade instead of farming. It had profound consequences, such as the emergence of towns and cities, the development of trade, the decline in leisure time, and the evolution of social hierarchies.
The Neolithic Revolution and the rise of agriculture led to significant social, economic, and environmental changes, paving the way for human civilizations to develop. As an example, Çatalhöyük's remains show that humans transitioned from a nomadic lifestyle to a settled agricultural existence, which gave rise to more complex societies with different professions and concentrations of power.