Final answer:
Food preparation and trade significantly influenced the development of society by providing a variety of nutrients, leading to improved health and enabling the specialization of labor. The domestication of plants and animals initiated settlements and urbanization, directly impacting the rise of technology and modern economies.
Step-by-step explanation:
The invention of food preparation techniques and the global trade of food have significantly influenced the development of ways of life, leading to the advancement of human societies. These contributions have allowed explorers and inhabitants of cities to have access to a greater variety of foods, such as bananas from the West Indies or fresh meat and fish, significantly improving health by ensuring regular intake of vital nutrients like vitamins, minerals, fats, and carbohydrates. Early human diets tell us about the health, economies, politics, and religions of the past, while the domestication of livestock and crop production allowed for specialization in crafts and the foundation of modern economies.
Furthermore, permanent agricultural settlements paved the way for the development of organized communities, and subsequently, the urbanization that characterizes modern society. As agriculture became more efficient with better stone tools, a portion of society could specialize in other tasks, leading to the rise of trade, commerce, and innovation in various fields including technology, which now pervades all aspects of our lives. The domestication of plants and animals around 10,000 to 12,000 years ago marks a significant transformation, allowing for the rise of villages, towns, cities, and empires, changing the course of human history forever.