The development of agriculture led to the rise of civilizations. People had to stay in one place in order to grow and harvest crops. They also needed buildings in order to store crops. Many civilizations in the Middle East invested in irrigation structures in order to provide for stable water. Over time, people selected the best strains of their crops in order to ensure the highest yields.
The development of agriculture led to increased trade as agricultural areas traded surplus crops for other goods. Government officials regulated trade and exchange rates—over time, government's role would expand with trade. Agriculture also led to an increase in cities; this also necessitated more governance. Scribes kept records of how much of each crop was harvested. Many civilizations in the Middle East kept crop records as part of their written histories. People also turned to using draft animals in order to pull plows more efficiently.
Agriculture also led to people taking on different jobs as farmers could produce food more efficiently than a group of gatherers. People could spend more time on pottery, art, and stonework. This led to civilizations developing their own material cultures. Agriculture also led to an increased population, as famine happened less often. Hunger still struck the early civilizations due to blights and drought; however, life was easier than it was during the nomadic period. Increasing populations also competed for decreasing resources as well as power over trade routes. This would lead to major wars between early civilizations that used professional soldiers.
As agricultural technology improved it became possible to grow surplus crops, thus moving away from a subsistence economy. This provided ancient civilizations with something they could use to trade. Surplus crops could be exchanged with other civilizations for imported goods such as cloths, precious metals, and spices. In turn, this led to the development of extensive trade routes, which facilitated the spread of cultures, religions, and ideas far and wide. In short, the development of agriculture made the known world just that little bit smaller.
The downside of this development was that it increased military tensions in what is now the Middle-East. As civilizations came into closer contact with each other, there was inevitably a fair degree of conflict generated as the realization dawned that control of the rapidly expanding trade routes could bring significant strategic advantages. What had started out as a generally peaceful process of mutual exchange soon degenerated into mutual antagonism, hostility, and outright war.
The development of agriculture brought a change in human society. One change was that people began to live in permanent settlements. Society moved from one being based on hunting and gathering, to one being based on farming. People no longer had to live a nomadic lifestyle.
As more people farmed, there was a surplus of food. This allowed various changes to occur. Cities and villages began to develop as people settled in one place. Since everybody didn’t have to farm, people began to do different jobs and worked in...
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different professions such as trading, engineering, medicine, legal, accounting, law enforcement, and the military. This also led to the development of social classes. New tools were invented to help with the farming. For example, these tools helped to till the soil and plow the fields. People also no longer needed to kill animals just for getting food. They could develop products from the hides of the animals. These products included bedding, clothes, and tents. People no longer needed to consume food immediately. They were able to store and to save food for future use.
The development of agriculture impacted human society.
The development of agriculture is responsible for the shift from a nomadic lifestyle to one of settlements that later became urban environments. As well, this development has had a significant effect on human society. As agriculture changed from the natural environment, such as picking wild berries, to that of tilled fields and pastures, growing crops became a selective process. Farming procedures allowed for a greater variety of crops that were healthier and more diverse. For example, many different types of potatoes, tomatoes, and grains now exist through selective farming. As well, rotating crops allowed for better disease control as well as fields that could be reused. Production of food allowed for the shift from gathering to growing.
As far as animal husbandry, the rise in agricultural knowledge has also led to diversity in many different varieties of cows, pigs and fowl. Disease can be controlled and selective breeding has had significant impact on food production. As animals became domesticated, they became protected from predators and were also available as a food source during difficult times, so hunting did not have to remain a way of life. As agriculture has evolved, so has society, and it continues to do so today.
Further Reading
The Agricultural Revolution, which coincided with the climate change at the conclusion of the last ice age, had a dramatic impact on humanity. Farming allowed humans to form permanent settlements and abandon their nomadic ways. Humans shifted from hunting and gathering models to fixed farming villages. As populations increased due to the increased surplus of food, urban areas surfaced. The surplus of food also led to developments that spawned civilization. As an example, the increased populations and surplus of food required governments to organize the surplus and protect property. It is also thought that religions became more sophisticated. The surplus of food also led to the development of social classes. Trade and a merchant class were born due to farming. Since all people were not needed for food acquisition in farming civilizations, specialized and artistic jobs or professions were developed. Two negative results of the Agricultural Revolution were warfare and increase in disease.