Overview: Human societies have changed over the millennia as they settled in one place for extended periods of time, and some groups domesticated plants and animals through farming. Beginning in what today is the Middle East, some groups-built cities, and established states. States are structurally complex social organizations that exhibit status inequality among their citizens. We will survey what anthropologists can tell us about the causes and consequences of these major social transformations. Points to Consider: Although the advent of agriculture allowed humans to produce more food and have more children, it also increased the size of populations and led to more sedentary lifestyles. What were/are the repercussions of this? What role did this play in the development of complex societies? How has technology affected agriculturalism and global food production? (this is just points to consider but not the part of the actual question) Was the transition from hunter-gatherers to living in state-level societies a positive or negative development for humans? Explain and give specific details.

Overview: Human societies have changed over the millennia as they settled in one place for extended periods of time, and some groups domesticated plants and animals through farming. Beginning in what today is the Middle East, some groups-built cities, and established states. States are structurally complex social organizations that exhibit status inequality among their citizens. We will survey what anthropologists can tell us about the causes and consequences of these major social transformations. Points to Consider: Although the advent of agriculture allowed humans to produce more food and have more children, it also increased the size of populations and led to more sedentary lifestyles. What were/are the repercussions of this? What role did this play in the development of complex societies? How has technology affected agriculturalism and global food production? (this is just points to consider but not the part of the actual question) Was the transition from hunter-gatherers to living in state-level societies a positive or negative development for humans? Explain and give specific details.