The dawn of agriculture led to a surplus of available food and an explosion in the world’s population. Between the beginning of the Neolithic Revolution and the rise of ancient Rome, a period of about 10,000 years, the population grew by 25 times—from 10 million to 250 million. And from ancient Rome to now, a period of just 2,000 years, it’s grown by another 28 times—from 250 million to 7 billion! Without agriculture and the domestication of animals, this population boom would not have been possible.
Like most developments, the Neolithic Revolution has had benefits and downsides. On the positive side, humans have a better chance of living to old age and not dying of starvation. The food surplus eventually made it possible for people to specialize in different areas of labor. People could plan and govern cities, design art and architecture, practice religion, create a writing system, and develop other innovations. On the negative side, the difficulties of farming led to social hierarchies and the atrocity of slavery. Plus, mass agriculture has changed the Earth’s environment, leading to climate impacts we feel today. It is essential that we learn from the past while we continue to innovate in the future.
With which of the following would the author of this passage most likely agree?
A
More advancements and innovations were made in the Paleolithic and Mesolithic Eras than the Neolithic Era.
B
The Neolithic Revolution led to global overpopulation and should never have happened.
C
Despite its many benefits, the Neolithic Revolution has not been a total success story.