Agricultural societies

Definition

Agricultural societies are communities whose economy and way of life are centered around the cultivation of crops and farming as their primary means of sustenance and economic activity. These societies mark a significant evolution from hunter-gatherer communities by establishing settled communities with more complex social structures.

Related terms

Neolithic Revolution: The transition from nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyles to settled agricultural communities, marking the beginning of farming.

Domestication: The process of adapting wild plants and animals for human use, which is fundamental to the development of agriculture.

Surplus production: The production of more food than is needed for immediate survival, which allows for population growth and the development of cities and trade