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To: Pharmboy
Excellant and interesting article generally. Of cours they have got it wrong on the the reason for the transition from the paleolithic (hunter gatherer) way of life to the neolithic (agriculture based) way of life.

"If we examine the fossil record, it suggests that a number of environmental pressures may have forced humans to adopt agriculture, including increases in human population densities and the depletion of easily hunted game."

Certainly increases in population were a consequence of this transition, and not the cause of it. The reason that humans gave up the care-free and easy life of the hunter-gather for the boredom and drudgery of agriculture is that they had discovered brewing and wanted a stesdy source of grains for making beer. The transition is allegorically represented in the Bible by the story of the fall.

17 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life;
18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field;
19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Genesis 3

41 posted on 03/07/2002 7:55:24 PM PST by Aurelius
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To: Aurelius
Wow. Great insight with the brewing and cereals for the start of agriculture. Never thought of that...you just might be right!
46 posted on 03/08/2002 2:40:53 AM PST by Pharmboy
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To: Aurelius
The reason that humans gave up the care-free and easy life of the hunter-gather for the boredom and drudgery of agriculture is that they had discovered brewing and wanted a stesdy source of grains for making beer.

I first heard this explanation for the transition to farming when I was in college. It made a lot of sense to me then, and I have yet to see anything to make me change my mind. All the other explanations lack this simple appeal to observable human nature.

I never heard those Genesis verses cast in that light however. Interesting perspective.

52 posted on 03/08/2002 6:14:11 AM PST by Snuffington
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