What technological advancement allowed societies to transition from gathering to agriculture?

The transition from gathering to agriculture was significantly influenced by advancements in stone tools, as these tools were essential for the early humans in the process of cultivating crops and managing livestock. Stone tools allowed for more efficient harvesting, cutting, and processing of plants, which facilitated a shift from a nomadic lifestyle to a more settled agricultural existence.

The development of stone tools represented a crucial technological enhancement that enabled early societies to manipulate their environment, leading to the domestication of plants and animals. This marked the beginning of agricultural practices, which in turn supported the growth of larger, more complex societies due to the reliable food sources that agriculture provided.

While options such as the plow, seed selection, and farming calendars reflect advancements that furthered agricultural practices, they came after the initial transition to agriculture had already been made possible through the effective use of stone tools.