Which term describes the ancient period associated with the development of agriculture?

The term that describes the ancient period associated with the development of agriculture is Neolithic. This period, which began around 10,000 BCE, marks a significant transition in human history known as the Neolithic Revolution. During this time, societies shifted from a nomadic lifestyle of hunting and gathering (characteristic of the Paleolithic period) to settled farming communities, leading to the cultivation of plants and domestication of animals.

The Neolithic period is characterized by advances in tools and techniques for farming, the establishment of permanent settlements, and the beginnings of social stratification and more complex societal structures. The emergence of agriculture had a profound impact on human culture, population growth, and the development of civilization.

The Paleolithic period precedes the Neolithic and is marked by the use of simple stone tools and a reliance on wild resources rather than agriculture. The Mesolithic period serves as a transitional phase between the Paleolithic and Neolithic, where people began to innovate in tool-making and adapt to changing environments but had not yet fully developed agriculture. The Holocene is the current geological epoch, beginning after the last Ice Age approximately 11,700 years ago, which overlaps with the Neolithic but does not specifically refer to the agricultural developments of this time.