Why Farming was a Terrible Deal for Humans - Prof. Jiang Xueqin

Summary

The traditional narrative of human progress suggests that transitioning from hunter-gatherers to farmers led to stability, surplus, and modern civilization. However, new evidence challenges this idea, suggesting that farming actually introduced greater hardship. Unlike hunter-gatherers, who worked minimal hours and had a diverse diet, farmers worked longer hours, faced malnutrition, and were more prone to diseases due to unsanitary living conditions. The famous quote 'wheat domesticated us' highlights how humans became laborers for their crops. The transition to farming created overpopulation and land depletion, and the question remains why this shift occurred despite its clear drawbacks.

Takeaways

• 😀 Humans were initially hunter-gatherers, living in small groups of 20 to 50 people.
• 😀 The discovery of farming brought about a revolution, providing a stable and controlled food source.
• 😀 The concept of 'domestication' refers to bringing plants and animals under human control for farming.
• 😀 Surplus food created by farming led to the development of roles like leaders, priests, and creative individuals.
• 😀 The growth of surplus food allowed for the creation of cities, literature, and advancements in science and technology.
• 😀 Modernity, as we know it today, emerged as a result of transitioning from hunting and gathering to agriculture.
• 😀 However, there is little evidence to support the idea that this transition was a positive development for humans.
• 😀 It was actually more difficult and labor-intensive to farm than to hunt and gather food.
• 😀 As a farmer, one had to work much longer hours—around 6 to 7 hours a day, compared to 1 hour as a hunter-gatherer.
• 😀 The famous historian Yuval Harari suggests that wheat 'domesticated' humans rather than humans domesticated wheat, making the transition to farming a poor deal for humans.

Q & A

What was the lifestyle like for hunter-gatherers?

Hunter-gatherers lived in small groups of 20 to 50 people, and their lifestyle was relatively easy, as they roamed the land looking for food. They typically worked only about an hour a day to gather food.

How did the discovery of farming change human society?

The discovery of farming provided a stable and controllable food source, which led to the creation of surplus food. This surplus allowed people to pursue roles beyond farming, such as leaders, priests, and creative individuals, contributing to the development of politics, religion, and arts.

What does 'domestication' mean in the context of farming?

'Domestication' refers to the process of humans bringing plants and animals under their control for cultivation. In the case of farming, it meant humans cultivating crops like wheat to ensure a reliable food supply.

What was the main problem with the transition from hunter-gatherers to farming?

The transition from hunter-gatherers to farming was problematic because farming required significantly more labor, with people working 6-7 hours a day compared to just 1 hour as hunter-gatherers. This made life harder and less enjoyable.

How did Yuval Harari describe the relationship between humans and wheat in *Sapiens*?

Harari argued that 'wheat domesticated us,' meaning that humans were essentially controlled by wheat. Instead of humans making wheat their 'slave,' wheat made humans do all the work of cultivating and spreading it for its own benefit.

What does the phrase 'we did not domesticate wheat, wheat domesticated us' imply?

The phrase suggests that, contrary to popular belief, humans did not control wheat for their benefit. Instead, wheat manipulated human society by requiring humans to grow it and spread it, ultimately making humans work harder for wheat's survival.

Why did farming lead to overpopulation and land depletion?

Farming required more people to work the land, which led to population growth. Over time, this put pressure on the land, causing it to become overused and eventually less fertile, contributing to land depletion.

How did the diet of farmers differ from that of hunter-gatherers?

Farmers had a more limited diet, mostly consisting of wheat and some vegetables. In contrast, hunter-gatherers had a more varied and nutritious diet, including meat, fruits, nuts, and vegetables, which contributed to better overall health.

Why were farmers shorter and less healthy than hunter-gatherers?

Farmers were shorter and less healthy because their diet was not as varied or nutritious as that of hunter-gatherers. The reliance on wheat and limited food sources led to poor nutrition, which negatively affected their growth and overall health.

What were the health risks associated with farming?

Farming led to overcrowded and unsanitary living conditions, especially with animals and waste being close to humans. This increased the likelihood of contracting diseases and contributed to a higher mortality rate compared to the healthier and more hygienic lifestyles of hunter-gatherers.