Human evolution in relation to agriculture is fascinating. As the global population has grown, the development of agriculture and civilization has significantly changed our lives.
The development of agriculture was very important. Prior to this, humans were hunter-gatherers, relying on wild plants and animals for food. However, as the population grew, it became increasingly difficult to sustain this way of life. So, humans began to cultivate crops and domesticate animals, providing a more reliable source of food (Cohen, 1997).
This had a large impact on human evolution. With a more reliable source of food, populations could grow and settle in one place, leading to the development of towns and cities. This led to the rise of civilization. Civilizations often contain complex social and political systems and lead to advancements in technology, art, and science (Turchin, 2014).
One of the key factors that facilitated the development of agriculture and civilization was the growth in population size. With more people, there were more hands to work the land, and more minds to come up with new ideas and technologies. This allowed for the development of more efficient and productive agricultural systems, and for the growth of larger and more complex societies (Cohen, 1997).
However, it is important to note that population growth also brought its own set of challenges. As societies became more complex and populations grew, issues such as disease, war, and resource scarcity became more prevalent. These challenges helped to shape human evolution in new ways, leading to the development of new technologies, social institutions, and economic systems (Diamond, 1988).
In summary, population growth has played a critical role in human evolution, facilitating the development of agriculture, civilization, and a more complex way of life. The growth in population size has brought both opportunities and challenges, shaping human evolution in ways that continue to shape our world today.
Turchin, P. (2014). Population Growth and the Evolution of Human Society. Evolutionary Anthropology, 23(1), 18-28.
Cohen, M. N. (1997). The Impact of Population Growth on the Development of Agriculture and Civilization. Journal of World Prehistory, 11(2), 135-168.
Diamond, J. (1987). “The Agricultural Revolution”. Scientific American, 42-50.
Evolutionary Anthropology 