What crucial change occurred during the agricultural revolution that affected human settlement?

The agricultural revolution marked a significant turning point in human history, primarily because it enabled societies to shift from nomadic lifestyles, based on hunting and gathering, to settled agricultural communities. This transition led to the development of urban centers, as people began to cultivate crops and domesticate animals in stable locations.

With the ability to produce surplus food, populations grew, and as more individuals settled in one area, the social structure and organization began to evolve. These settled communities became the foundation for more complex societies, which often included the construction of permanent dwellings and communal facilities. It is within these urban centers that trade, culture, and governance began to flourish, leading to advanced societal structures and interactions.

The other choices, while significant advancements in their own right, are consequences or related developments that stemmed from the agricultural revolution rather than being direct changes that enabled settlement. Increased trade networks, the introduction of metal tools, and the rise of written language all became prominent as societies evolved post-agricultural revolution, but they were facilitated by the initial establishment of settled communities.