Health Decline and Population Growth of the Neolithic...

As discussed in class by Dr. Birch, the term Neolithic was coined to refer to new techniques of grinding and polishing stone tools. The significance of the Neolithic, however, is related to the creation of an entirely new economy, not just the difference in artifacts. During the Neolithic Revolution many groups became dependent on domesticated foods, meaning at least 50 percent of their diet consisted of domesticated foods (Kottack 2011:234). These Neolithic economies, whose primary diet consisted of agriculture, were associated with substantial changes in daily life. Until recently, scientists believed that these changes were for the improvement of human life. Most anthropologists and archaeologists agreed that hunter-gatherer societies were far more labor-intensive, disease-filled, and generally a had lower quality of life. This has all changed with new studies and characterizations in the fields of anthropology and archaeology. Among these studies and characterizations of hunter-g atherers are those collected in Man the Hunter which suggests â€Å"that Paleolithic populations had abundant resources and could be considered the earliest affluent society† (Armelagos et al 1991:13). These new findings have causes anthropologists to wonder if populations during the Neolithic really did increase and if these populations were healthier than those of the Paleolithic. Was the Neolithic Revolution a good thing for the human species? Scientists believe the population growth witnessedShow MoreRelatedTechnology And Transportation During The United East And Europe1114 Words   |  5 Pagessettles near Mediterranean -1,122: China – Western Zhou kings -Human species emergenced 2 to 2.5 million years ago - Managed to spread and take control in short amount of time Negatives -Aggressiveness -Longer dependence in earlier stages of life -Health problems are more prominent and impacts for the worse Positives -Opposable thumb -Knowledge of possibility of death -Advantages in sexual reproduction -Adaptable appetites, can eat various foods -Capability of elaborate and better ways of communicationRead MoreThe Birth of Civilization18947 Words   |  76 Pagesand to lead a settled life. Beginning about 5,000 years ago, a far more complex way of life began to appear in some parts of the world. In these places humans learned how to increase harvests through irrigation and other methods. Much larger populations came together in towns, cities, and other centers, where they erected impressive structures and where industry and commerce flourished. They developed writing, enabling them to keep inventories of food and other resources. Specialized occupationsRead MoreChinas model7412 Words   |  30 Pagesmachine are applied to do agriculture for faster growth. It encourage the self-manufacturing system in agriculture. The mantra of sustainable development is constantly on the lips of international agencies and non-governmental organizations engaged in assistance to lesser-developed countries. The concept seems innocuous enough; after all, who would favor unsustainable development? But the fundamental premise of the idea-that economic growth, if left unconstrained and unmanaged by the stateRead MoreGenetically Modified Food and Gm Foods4570 Words   |  19 Pagesare what they eat. The relationship humans have with food is unappreciated. Food is the fuel that keeps humans going, gives them the energy needed to be creative and productive; it is the building block of society, after all, it wasn’t until the Neolithic Era, when humans figured out a way to domesticate plants and animals, that any form of organized society formed. Even during the previous hunter-gatherer foraging era, humans were very connected to the food they ate; understanding where it came and