* The development of agriculture. Agriculture allowed for a more settled way of life, which made it possible for people to build larger and more complex societies. Agricultural societies also produced more food than hunter-gatherer societies, which allowed for a larger population.
* The spread of disease. Agricultural societies were often more densely populated than hunter-gatherer societies, which made it easier for disease to spread. Diseases such as smallpox, measles, and malaria decimated many hunter-gatherer populations.
* The expansion of empires. As agricultural societies grew in power, they began to expand their empires. This expansion often led to the displacement of hunter-gatherer peoples.
* The desire for luxury goods. As agricultural societies became more wealthy, they began to demand luxury goods such as furs, ivory, and spices. This demand led to increased trade between agricultural societies and hunter-gatherer societies. However, this trade often benefited the agricultural societies more than the hunter-gatherer societies.
The decline of hunter-gatherer societies has had a significant impact on the world. Hunter-gatherer societies have a wealth of knowledge about the natural world, and their decline has led to the loss of this knowledge. Hunter-gatherer societies also play an important role in the conservation of biodiversity, and their decline has led to the loss of habitat for many species of plants and animals.