Final answer:
The Natufian plant domestication was prompted by climate changes and the transition to a more settled lifestyle, coinciding with post-ice age warming. It led to more specialized labor, societal complexity, and the rise of agriculture, though not all societies adopted farming.
Step-by-step explanation:
Natufian plant domestication was likely driven by several factors, including environmental changes and the emergence of a more settled way of life. Initially, the Natufian groups were hunter-gatherers who lived in an environment rich with wild edible plants and animals, enabling them to settle in one place. As climate conditions changed, bringing drier conditions to the Near East, these groups were pushed towards finding new strategies for survival.
The advent of agriculture around 10,000 to 12,000 years ago coincides with the warming period after the last ice age. Humans began to consciously alter the environment by planting seeds of desirable plants leading to altered plant features over generations, thus significantly affecting human civilization. This process made it possible to feed larger groups, led to labor specialization, and the rise of more complex societies.
While the benefits of domestication are clear today, it is essential to recognize that not all societies adopted these practices. For instance, Indigenous Australians chose to retain their hunter-gatherer lifestyle despite having the means to farm. The choice to domesticate plants and animals was not uniform but was influenced by a confluence of ecological, social, and cultural factors.