At the heart of the development of complex societies is a group's ability to:
A) trade over great distances
B) organize labor to build great monuments
C) keep accurate records as a result of the invention of writing
D) produce a food surplus

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The ability to produce a food surplus allowed for the development of specialization of labor, allowing certain individuals to dedicate their time to activities other than farming, such as building great monuments or developing systems of writing. Without a surplus of food, individuals would be unable to support themselves in non-agricultural activities. While trade, organization of labor, and accurate record-keeping are all important factors in the development of complex societies, they all ultimately rely on the ability to produce a food surplus.

At the Heart of the Development of Complex Societies Is