Chapter 2: First farmers: The Revolution of Agriculture
The transformation of Gathers and hunters to Agricultural didn't happen over night. the more people migrated the less food there was to hunt. Hence cultivation of plans and breeding of animals was a new way of living. Our species improvised and did use with what was around, in order to survive. The agricultural Era was really the foundation of human life. The book best described it as
"Agricultural represented revolutionary transformation of human life."
This transformation led to colonization, domestication cities and increased populations. It was a relationship of humankind and other living things. To have humankind "direct" the way certain plants grow and where, or taming certain animals to make our living conditions more comfortable or to have a variety to choose from when it came to our diets is remarkable to see how we have evolved throughout time. The agricultural era was really a time where humans turned to alternatives when it came to cultivating or breeding animal for their benefit.
I really like the way the author pointed out the roles of gender, when he spoke of women being the innovators of farming and also weavers later on in the chapter. while men main took over the domestication of animals.
Although the agricultural era was a new way of living and had many benefits, there were also consequences. For example domesticated animals and plants become dependent on humans. The agricultural era also led to loss of gatherer hunters skills based on the fact that they too became dependent on animals and plants for survival.
The beginning of the agricultural revolution started when the ice age ended. With the migration happening so rapidly, and increased populations it led to extinctions of big animals.The people that migrated had to turn to available resources and different animals for nourishment.
To be stabilized, led to a food crisis. Which led to an effort to increase food which lead to breeding animals and cultivating what they had, in order to reproduce more. The consequence of being dependent is that they couldn't just up and leave which i personally don't believe is a bad thing. it made us be more resourceful. they were starting to slowly be colonized.
All over the world people joined the agricultural movement in their own ways. The book broke it down to having for fourteen species that were able to be tamed mainly cattle, horses and pigs. Many things were cultivated some more than others depending on the climate, such as bean, maize and yams.
The extension of farming was based in two ways. Diffusion, which was gradual spread of agricultural with exchanging methods of breeding and planting. The second way was slow colonization. which basically meant that more people led a demand of food where conquest happened or displacement of gatherers and hunters.
An example are the Bantu people. they killed and drove away Paleolithic people. They also spread diseases that had no cure. The agricultural revolution benefited many but not all. herders existed where they relied on animals for their diet. As the agricultural enriched people it also created a sense of power that many took advantage of. Survival of the fittest and or greed either way it lead people turning against each other which was not trait that the Paleolithic had instilled in each other.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Chapter One Reflection
Chapter One Reflection
The first chapter describing the first people populating the planet was interesting; in the concept to see as time passed, how we evolved.Having evidence that our species can be traced back from Africa is incredible. From, hunter gathers, to paleolithic people. Based on finding such as drawings located in caves during the stone age we now know of songs, possible religious ceremonies, stories and animals that were haunted as food to survive. With mother nature changing the shape of the world, it affected many migrants when it came to survival. for example in Russia because it was so cold the clothing was warmer. I recall a previous class that addressed the neandrotall people and how they lived in high altitude as a result their noses changed shapes where i believe they were much pointier. I don't know how much of this is true, but i recall hearing that the neandrotall species became extinct because their brains didn't develop like the homo sapience. they didn't want to be colonized and only haunted the way they were taught, which limited their food intake.Whereas the migrants that headed near Australia, which was much warmer climate. It also affected the diet the first people had. Fishing was another option for them to eat. Which lead to different hunting tools.
I found it interesting how the migrants in Australia progressed at a rapid rate and in a sense became more colonized than others.To create boats to get by and bring over seeds, animals baskets, hunting tool with them and eventually trading their good for others expanded sources that could be use to survive as their migration continued. One of the negative consequences were animals became extinct or wild plants that didn't grow in different regions of the world.
In addition it was very interesting to know that there was a gender inequality at such an early time in history. Despite women providing a vass majority of the "income" when it came to the diet of the first human societies, and how men hunters only provided about thirty percent of meat makes a huge difference why and to who we should be thankful that our species has lasted this long.
Paleolithic people like many had rules and structure. Although, the groups were small it was fascinating to read how they were sympathetic toward their own kind, when it came to distributing food. To be humble, and settle with the pure basics reminds me of the Kung people that I learned in my cultural anthropology class last semester. It's also how many Europeans and Central American live today. On the contrary with us, they'res not enough time in a day to do what we need nor want to do. In fact, I read an article about a two years ago on how we're always rushing to Point B from Point A, and how we don't even get to enjoy life anymore. On a positive note we do have a longer life span than the Paleolithic people.
The stone age has art that was found inside caves that has similar findings of the Sun People located in the Northern fringe Of Africa. Religious rituals, songs and dances all told through painting findings. The book best described it when the author said that the Sun people practiced ancient way of life. The Sun people were wise and humble.
the first chapter provided so much valuable information which made me think back to a previous cultural anthropology class. One of the reason that history is so important, is the fact that it is a ongoing progress. It's interesting to see what we have passed on and what we have lost.
The first chapter describing the first people populating the planet was interesting; in the concept to see as time passed, how we evolved.Having evidence that our species can be traced back from Africa is incredible. From, hunter gathers, to paleolithic people. Based on finding such as drawings located in caves during the stone age we now know of songs, possible religious ceremonies, stories and animals that were haunted as food to survive. With mother nature changing the shape of the world, it affected many migrants when it came to survival. for example in Russia because it was so cold the clothing was warmer. I recall a previous class that addressed the neandrotall people and how they lived in high altitude as a result their noses changed shapes where i believe they were much pointier. I don't know how much of this is true, but i recall hearing that the neandrotall species became extinct because their brains didn't develop like the homo sapience. they didn't want to be colonized and only haunted the way they were taught, which limited their food intake.Whereas the migrants that headed near Australia, which was much warmer climate. It also affected the diet the first people had. Fishing was another option for them to eat. Which lead to different hunting tools.
I found it interesting how the migrants in Australia progressed at a rapid rate and in a sense became more colonized than others.To create boats to get by and bring over seeds, animals baskets, hunting tool with them and eventually trading their good for others expanded sources that could be use to survive as their migration continued. One of the negative consequences were animals became extinct or wild plants that didn't grow in different regions of the world.
In addition it was very interesting to know that there was a gender inequality at such an early time in history. Despite women providing a vass majority of the "income" when it came to the diet of the first human societies, and how men hunters only provided about thirty percent of meat makes a huge difference why and to who we should be thankful that our species has lasted this long.
Paleolithic people like many had rules and structure. Although, the groups were small it was fascinating to read how they were sympathetic toward their own kind, when it came to distributing food. To be humble, and settle with the pure basics reminds me of the Kung people that I learned in my cultural anthropology class last semester. It's also how many Europeans and Central American live today. On the contrary with us, they'res not enough time in a day to do what we need nor want to do. In fact, I read an article about a two years ago on how we're always rushing to Point B from Point A, and how we don't even get to enjoy life anymore. On a positive note we do have a longer life span than the Paleolithic people.
The stone age has art that was found inside caves that has similar findings of the Sun People located in the Northern fringe Of Africa. Religious rituals, songs and dances all told through painting findings. The book best described it when the author said that the Sun people practiced ancient way of life. The Sun people were wise and humble.
the first chapter provided so much valuable information which made me think back to a previous cultural anthropology class. One of the reason that history is so important, is the fact that it is a ongoing progress. It's interesting to see what we have passed on and what we have lost.
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