Final answer:
Intensive agriculture is a method of producing food by repeatedly farming the same plot using labor-intensive techniques, which allows for high yields and generates an agricultural surplus. This surplus supports the development of specialization and markets, contributing to the social and cultural complexity of a society.
Step-by-step explanation:
Food-producing societies that practice intensive agriculture are characterized by their use of labor-intensive methods to cultivate one plot repeatedly, using tools such as plows, irrigation systems, and sometimes terracing. These societies focus on growing a small selection of crops, often grains or legumes, which allows them to generate a surplus. This surplus is then used to trade for other necessities, facilitating the development of specialists in various trades and crafts who do not need to engage in farming themselves.
The method of intensive agriculture supports larger populations due to its high yields. Intensive agriculture leads to the creation of a specialized class of people and fosters the emergence of markets as institutions for economic exchange. The innovation in techniques and technologies also contributes to the development of modernity and complex sociocultural features associated with industrial society.