Which development is most associated with agricultural societies?

Which development is most associated with agricultural societies?

• A. Use of the plow
• B. Hunter-gatherer lifestyle
• C. Absence of social class
• D. Digital technology

Answer: (A)

The key idea here is how farming enables bigger surpluses and more complex social life. The plow is a major tool that dramatically increases farming efficiency, especially in heavier soils, allowing farmers to grow more crops with less effort. This boost in productivity supports settled communities, storage of excess food, and the division of labor, which in turn fosters social differentiation and complex societies. The hunter-gatherer lifestyle describes earlier, non-agricultural modes of living, not what defines agricultural societies. The absence of social class runs contrary to what surplus and specialization typically bring, which is greater social differentiation. Digital technology is a modern development and far removed from early agricultural transitions.

The key idea here is how farming enables bigger surpluses and more complex social life. The plow is a major tool that dramatically increases farming efficiency, especially in heavier soils, allowing farmers to grow more crops with less effort. This boost in productivity supports settled communities, storage of excess food, and the division of labor, which in turn fosters social differentiation and complex societies.

The hunter-gatherer lifestyle describes earlier, non-agricultural modes of living, not what defines agricultural societies. The absence of social class runs contrary to what surplus and specialization typically bring, which is greater social differentiation. Digital technology is a modern development and far removed from early agricultural transitions.