Analyzing the Transition from Gathering to Farming in Prehistory

What belief is archaeology demolishing according to Jared Diamond's article?

The belief that human history has been a long tale of progress.

What negative consequences does Jared Diamond associate with the adoption of agriculture?

Gross social and sexual inequality, disease, and despotism.

How does Jared Diamond describe our modern advantages compared to people of the Middle Ages?

As better off in almost every respect.

What did astronomy teach humans according to Jared Diamond?

That Earth is not the center of the universe. Signup and view all the answers

What did biology teach humans according to Jared Diamond?

That humans were not specially created by God but evolved along with other species. Signup and view all the answers

What is the title of Jared Diamond's article?

'The Worst Mistake in the History of the Human Race' Signup and view all the answers

What are at least three sets of reasons to explain the findings that agriculture was bad for health?

Varied diet vs. starchy crops, risk of starvation from crop failure, spread of parasites and infectious diseases due to crowded societies Signup and view all the answers

What curse upon humanity did farming help bring, besides malnutrition, starvation, and epidemic diseases?

Deep class divisions Signup and view all the answers

What were the key differences in health and nutrition between royals and commoners in Greek and Chilean populations?

Royals had better diet, taller stature, and fewer bone lesions caused by disease Signup and view all the answers

What could be a consequence of frequent pregnancies among farming women compared to hunter-gatherer women?

Drains on their health Signup and view all the answers

Why did women in agricultural societies sometimes become beasts of burden?

Pressure to produce more hands for fieldwork Signup and view all the answers

What is the study of signs of disease in the remains of ancient peoples called?

Paleopathology Signup and view all the answers

What can skeletons reveal about their owner?

Sex, weight, and approximate age Signup and view all the answers

What can enamel defects in teeth indicate?

Childhood malnutrition Signup and view all the answers

What historical changes in height were observed in skeletons from Greece and Turkey?

Height decreased with the adoption of agriculture and slowly started rising again by classical times. Signup and view all the answers

At Dickson Mounds, what health changes were observed in early farmers compared to hunter-gatherers?

Increased enamel defects, iron-deficiency anemia, bone lesions, and degenerative spine conditions. Signup and view all the answers

What was the life expectancy at birth in the pre-agricultural community at Dickson Mounds?

Twenty-six years Signup and view all the answers

Why did the Indians at Dickson Mounds take up farming according to the evidence?

Out of necessity to feed their growing numbers Signup and view all the answers

What do pathologists use to calculate expected life span and risk of death at any given age?

Mortality tables Signup and view all the answers

What are the two main sources of remains that paleopathologists study?

Mummies and skeletons Signup and view all the answers

What physical labor likely led to an increase in degenerative spine conditions observed in early farmers?

Hard physical labor Signup and view all the answers

Why did our ancestors adopt agriculture according to the text?

Our ancestors adopted agriculture because it was an efficient way to get more food for less work. Signup and view all the answers

How did agriculture impact the lives of hunter-gatherers in terms of leisure time?

Agriculture provided free time that hunter-gatherers did not have. Signup and view all the answers

Why did some hunter-gatherer groups choose not to adopt agriculture?

Some hunter-gatherer groups chose not to adopt agriculture because they had abundant wild food sources available, like mongongo nuts. Signup and view all the answers

How did the diets of surviving hunter-gatherers compare to farmers?

The diets of surviving hunter-gatherers were more varied and nutritious than farmers, with a better balance of protein and other nutrients. Signup and view all the answers

What was one reason provided in the text for the leisure time of hunter-gatherers compared to farmers?

Hunter-gatherers had more leisure time because they worked less hard to obtain food. Signup and view all the answers

How did agriculture influence the development of art according to the text?

The progressivist view credits agriculture with enabling the remarkable flowering of art over the past few thousand years. Signup and view all the answers

What indirect tests were used by archaeologists to examine the impact of agriculture on early societies?

Archaeologists used indirect tests like comparing the lifestyles of twentieth century hunter-gatherers and farmers. Signup and view all the answers

How did the daily food intake of Bushmen compare to the recommended daily allowance during plentiful times?

The daily food intake of Bushmen during plentiful times was considerably greater than the recommended daily allowance in terms of calories and protein. Signup and view all the answers

Why did some Bushmen choose not to adopt agriculture despite neighboring tribes doing so?

Some Bushmen chose not to adopt agriculture because they had an abundance of mongongo nuts available in the world. Signup and view all the answers

How did the diets of Bushmen differ from farmers in terms of nutrients?

The diets of Bushmen were more balanced and nutritious compared to farmers, providing a better mix of protein and other nutrients. Signup and view all the answers

According to the passage, what was the role of the small woman in carrying the bag of rice?

She was supporting the weight of the bag by a cord across her temples. Signup and view all the answers

How does the passage suggest that leisure time is not a critical factor in the flowering of art?

Modem hunter-gatherers have as much free time as farmers. Signup and view all the answers

What is one reason mentioned in the passage for the adoption of agriculture by certain bands?

Bands chose to increase food production to feed more mouths. Signup and view all the answers

How did agriculture impact the population densities of hunter-gatherers compared to farmers?

Farmers had much higher population densities than hunter-gatherers. Signup and view all the answers

What negative consequences of choosing to increase food production over limiting population are highlighted in the passage?

Starvation, warfare, and tyranny. Signup and view all the answers

What lifestyle is described as the most successful and longest lasting in human history?

Hunter-gatherer lifestyle. Signup and view all the answers

How does the passage characterize the adoption of agriculture by human societies?

As the worst mistake in human history. Signup and view all the answers

What choice did human societies face when population growth started to outstrip food production?

Limit population growth or increase food production. Signup and view all the answers

According to the passage, what was one factor that led to the adoption of agriculture by some bands?

Transient abundance enjoyed until population growth caught up. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of archaeology in studying the rise of farming according to the passage?

Reconstructing a crucial stage where a mistake was made. Signup and view all the answers