What distinguishes populations that lived in settled societies from hunter-gatherers?

Populations that lived in settled societies are primarily distinguished by their practice of agriculture, which includes the cultivation of crops and domestication of animals. This significant shift in lifestyle allowed these societies to establish permanent settlements, as they no longer needed to follow the migratory patterns associated with hunting and gathering.

The practice of farming enabled a stable food supply, which led to population growth and the development of complex social structures, including organized communities and divisions of labor. In contrast, hunter-gatherers relied on foraging and hunting wild resources, which necessitated frequent movement to find food.

While the use of fire, tool-making techniques, and migration patterns are important aspects of human behavior and adaptation, they do not specifically characterize the transition from a nomadic lifestyle to a settled agricultural one as clearly as the cultivation of crops and domestication of animals. These agricultural practices are foundational to the development of civilizations, making them a key distinguishing feature of settled societies.