The traditional view is that the shift to agricultural food production supported a denser population, which in turn supported larger sedentary communities, more goods and tools, and specialization in forms of new labor.

Overall a population could increase its size more rapidly when resources were more available. The resulting larger societies led to the development of different means of decision making and government. Food surpluses made possible the development of a social elite freed from labor who didn't have to perform manual labour but who could make decisions for the community. There were deep social divisions, and inequality between the sexes, with women’s status declining as men took on greater roles as leaders and warriors.

Social class was determined by occupation, with farmers and craftsmen at the lower end, and priests and warriors at the higher.