Food and water are key items to humans survival. Around 10,000 years ago and for a long time after humans were nomadic. They got their nutrients from hunting and gathering. We led an ascetic life that left no room for disparity among the nomadic people. As time passed, nomads turned to a more “civil” way to obtain food, agriculture. Civilizations all began because of agriculture. Now instead of searching for food, humans spent their time in groups tending to vegetation and animals because of this there was no need to travel any longer. Hence, the reason cities started to emerge. The nomadic people of earth turned to agriculture to support a larger, more concentrated, population. The glamour that agriculture would introduce would last for generations.
During the time of the nomadic people, hunting and gathering could only support so many people. Even if the hunters and gatherers were experienced the amount of food that could be collected while managing children was almost impossible. Mothers at the time could not raise two infants at one time so instead of keeping the child it was killed. It is believed that agriculture was taken on by nomads because of this. With their population growing at a steady pace and the amount of time and effort it takes to raise babies a more domestic way of life was developed. Without the hassle of having to be constantly on the move, children could be spared since their mothers had the time to care for them. Hunting and gathering depended to much on luck and mother nature while agriculture depended more so on the farmer and nature.
New isn’t always better, but it is certainly more appealing. To some nomads the idea of staying in one place and raising a family was appealing. The illusion they got when they harvested large amounts of crops at one time was that their work load had decreased significantly. Another reason for them to settle down was this image of a home. One place they could count on. A place to build upon and develop. This illusion inspired them and that’s where they gained the courage to stop hunting and gathering to become farmers.
Over time, civilizations spread throughout the world. Some of the more famous cities include Egypt and China. When agriculture was developed so was a form of law and order. Hierarchy became very popular at this time. Written language was also developed to record laws and regulations as well as transactions. With the establishment of land, wars became more frequent between two factions. Items that would not have been kept or discovered without being stationary such as crafts and smelting techniques for weapons, tools and jewelry were developed.
The contrast between a nomads health and a farmers health were quite significant. Nomads appeared to be taller and had a varied diet while the farmer would be malnourished and for the most part shorter. Not only were there physical differences but mental differences as well. Before when humans were constantly on the move and fought for survival against nature they didn’t have the time or need to develop laws and wealth, but once they settled down social classes appeared. With the start of social classes would bring villages, cities, and eventually kingdoms and empires. The development of agriculture would bring more implications to the human race than any other advancement in history.
The development of agriculture can be debated for years to whether it was an advancement or a mistake made by nomads. Several events have occurred because of that decision. Events that would shake the world and shape it to something new. The discoveries made from the time gained by agriculture would also shape the world. We have changed as everything does on earth; evolved and grown as a species throughout the years. Agriculture was just another step for us. From hunting and gathering to farming, we have gained more than lost. As a community we have developed to one of the most advanced species on earth because of the glamour we found in farming.