Neolithic Agricultural Advancements

Question

The plow is arguably the most important agricultural tool ever created. We don’t know exactly when the plow was invented, or by whom. But archaeologists found evidence that people have used plows for at least four thousand years.

The plow is used to break up soil and control weeds. Humans would use domesticated animals, such as oxen and horses, to pull the plow. With the plow, farmers could grow more food, resulting in a food surplus.

Food surpluses allowed people to settle permanently in one place. In addition, not everyone needed to be a farmer. People could specialize in other tasks, such as pottery or metalworking. However, some people, such as priests and soldiers, were thought to have more important jobs than other people. People with more important jobs had more power. People began to be placed in social groups based on their jobs. This sometimes led to division and conflict over who was in charge. Villagers had a less equal society than hunter-gatherers did.

Though the plow provided many benefits, it also led to some negative results. For example, farmers relied on just a few crops for food. This led to a decline in nutrition, resulting in shorter life spans. Droughts and pests sometimes destroyed the crops. Crop failure had devastating effects on villagers.

How did advancements in agriculture change life for Neolithic villagers? Choose three answers.

Agriculture led to the development of social groups.
Agriculture created food surpluses.
Agriculture led to more equality among people.
Agriculture resulted in more drought and less food production.
Agriculture allowed some people to do other jobs, such as making pottery and weaving.

Answer 1

Advancements in agriculture changed life for Neolithic villagers in the following ways:

1. Agriculture led to the development of social groups. - With the establishment of farming, people began to form distinct social groups based on their occupations and roles within the community.

2. Agriculture created food surpluses. - The use of the plow and domesticated animals allowed farmers to grow more food than they needed for immediate survival, resulting in surplus food.

3. Agriculture allowed some people to do other jobs, such as making pottery and weaving. - With fewer people needing to focus solely on farming due to food surpluses, others could specialize in different trades and crafts, leading to advancements in various skills and professions.

The other options, while relevant to the broader context of agriculture's impact, do not accurately reflect the changes that Neolithic villagers experienced in terms of societal structure and occupational diversity.