How Farming Transformed Human History

CrashCourse

In this installment of Crash Course Big History, John Green and guest host Hank Green explore the monumental shift from foraging to agriculture—a transition that fundamentally altered human existence. The video examines the "Agrarian Era," questioning why humans would abandon the relatively leisurely lifestyle of foraging for the back-breaking labor of farming. It presents the "energy" perspective of history, framing agriculture as a method for humans to harness more solar energy via photosynthesis, leading to population explosions and complex societies.