Courtney on “The Worst Mistake in the History of the Human Race”
‘With agriculture came the gross social and sexual inequality, the disease and despotism, that curse our existence.’ Jared diamond believes that the development of agriculture is the worst mistake in the history of the human race. He notes that the development of agriculture creates social inequality. This is primarily seen with a rich elite forming in certain parts of the world. Diamond also believes that disease and destruction is a product of bringing agriculture into a society. As well as inequality and destruction, Diamond feels that agriculture makes individuals less healthy. Farmers would concentrate on harvesting foods that were high in starches and low in proteins.
Diamond supports the idea that agriculture creates a social hierarchy. He believes that social classes are not based on the amount of work that one puts in, but rather the location that they have. I do not agree with Diamond on this aspect. I feel that the difference of soil and location creates more competition between the social classes. In the past century, new technologies have been invented to make soil better. The new technology gives everyone a fair advantage for growing more crops on decent soil. If we did not have agriculture in all parts of the world, society would not have the technology that it has today.
Similarly, Diamond believes that hunter and gathers obtain and perserve food in a more sanitary way. He supports this idea by stating that agriculture brings disease and destruction. Crops that are harvested are able to be stored and persevered for later. Diamond states that the storing process makes the crops vulnerable to germs. These germs in turn, spoil the food and make people sick and can destroy the entire yield harvested. I believe that Diamond is incorrect about this fact. I believe that the diseases were horrible but necessary. Without the diseases spreading, we would not have the storage and preservation systems that we have today. If we did not figure out how to prevent the diseases, our society would often have breakouts of famines and plagues. With the new technology that developed, food storage is now safer than ever before.
The main difference between hunter and gatherers and farmers that Diamond stresses is health concerns. Recent studies show that ancient hunter and gatherers were taller and stronger than farmers. Diamond stresses the fact that farmers produce starchy and high calorie foods only, while hunter gatherers have a varied diet. Diamond later states that because farmers depend on only a few crops that they are more prone to starvation if one crop fails. Diamond has a significant amount of information that support to his ideas; however, compared to the diets of today, his findings are not as strong. Today farmers are able to produce a variety of foods that provide the body with adequate nourishment. Foods can now be grown with essential minerals already in them. All of the foods that are not available on farms can be found in grocery stores. With new farming techniques and more food available to us, today’s society is healthier than ever before. Also with the rate that we can produce food, if one crop fails, society is not hurt by it because of the surpluses we have of other foods.
Overall, I feel that Diamond was correct with his research in relation to the immediate downfall of hunter gatherers. On the other hand, I feel that Diamond was incorrect with the idea that agriculture was the worst mistake in the history of the human race. Without the problems that the ancient farmers had while discovering agriculture, society would not be as successful (agriculturally) as it is today. If it was not for the difference of social classes and location, we would not have the technology to make land better and farming would remain in isolated areas. If diseases did not spread, we would not have the ability to store foods properly and safely, also famines would be a popular occurance. Finally, if it was not for the health depletion from hunting to farming, farmers would not have a varied diet. I strongly believe that agriculture is not the biggest mistake in the history of the human race.
Let’s revisit one of your very compelling arguments:
“Diamond supports the idea that agriculture creates a social hierarchy. He believes that social classes are not based on the amount of work that one puts in, but rather the location that they have. I do not agree with Diamond on this aspect. I feel that the difference of soil and location creates more competition between the social classes.”
You arguments move from prehistory to present time, so I really want to believe soil and location--aided by technological advancements--levels the agricultural planting field. But what I really find from Internet research is a very unlevel playing field dominated by mega-agricorporations that farm the smaller farms out of business. Enlighten me, please. Use links and/or cite using MLA in your comment.
I referenced to the following web site while I was preparing my argument:
http://soils.usda.gov/sqi/concepts/concepts.html.
This site helps explain how soil can be made better with technology. With a smaller farm, a farmer might not make as large of a profit than if he had a larger area to farm but he will be able to maintain his soil efficiently. Trying to maintain a larger farm is hard work and very time consuming. The farming community is not solely focused on the amount of crops produced, rather the quality of the crops. I would prefer to eat very ripe and juicy fruits grown on healthy soil than crops grown quickly on a larger farm that may not have the best soil upkeep. This keeps competition between the farming social classes. A farmer with a small farm who produces succulent crops will get just as many customers as a person with a larger field because the quality of his crops. The small farm owner may not make as much profit as the large farm owner, but he will gain just as much recognition and popularity for the quality of his crops. I believe quality is better then quantity and quality makes the farmer socially rich.
You have strongly supported your belief that immediately after the rise of food production, the human race suffered greatly, but as the farmers progressed, they developed new and better ways to survive.
Why is it, if food production was such a mistake, that this change occurred? And once it had begun, why didn’t the newly made farmer-herders change back to the better lifestyle of hunter-gatherer?
Here is a great website to start the search for the answer.
http://www.anth.ucsb.edu/faculty/stsmith/classes/anth3/studyguide2/08.SG_assign6.pdf
Hi Courtney!! I agree with you, and our special friend Jared Diamond, that the production of agriculture was a great mistake of the human race. Yes, it did create destructive behaviors such as a social hierachy. It also contributed largely to the spreading of germs. There has been much research done supporting these claims, such as found on the following website: http://schoolscience.rice.edu/duker/garden/gardenhis.html. However, I personally feel that although the agriculture was a great mistake, it was inevitable. The system of agriculture was bound to be created sometime during history regardless to its negative effects. Also, I think in today’s society agriculture is necessary, and that the postive aspects that come with it outway all of the negatives. But overall, I agree with much of what you stated in your blog. As Albert Einstein once said, “Agriculture is to society as vegetable bread is to my body.” http://www.cooks.com/rec/doc/0,174,148185-234202,00.html. I agree with Einstein.
P.S. You are a great blogger. I <3 blogging.
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