A brief history of cannibalism - Bill Schutt

Summary

In the 15th century, Europeans used mumia, made from ground mummified human flesh, as a cure-all for various ailments. The term 'cannibal' originated from Columbus's time, used to dehumanize indigenous people. Cannibalism has a complex history, including survival, medicinal, and cultural practices. Examples include European medicinal cannibalism with mumia and body parts, and filial cannibalism in China. Cannibalistic funerary rites among the Fore people of New Guinea led to the spread of kuru disease.

Takeaways

• 🧬 15th century Europeans used mumia, made from ground mummified human flesh, as a cure for various ailments.
• 🏝️ The term 'cannibal' originates from Christopher Columbus's time and was used to dehumanize indigenous people.
• 🌊 Columbus labeled resistant islanders as 'Caribes', leading to the evolution of the word 'cannibal'.
• 🌿 Mumia was in such high demand that European cemeteries were raided to meet the need for its production.
• 💊 Human body parts like blood, liver, gallstones, and brains were used in European medicinal concoctions.
• 📜 In China, filial cannibalism was practiced where children would offer a piece of their flesh to cure sick parents.
• 🗡️ Cannibalistic funerary rites among the Fore people of New Guinea involved consuming the deceased to honor them.
• 🦠 These funerary practices inadvertently spread the deadly disease kuru within the Fore community.
• 📚 The script highlights the complex and varied history of cannibalism, with both factual and fictional accounts.
• ❓ The true extent of cultural cannibalism remains uncertain due to a combination of real practices and exaggerated stories.

Q & A

What was the 15th century European belief about mumia?

15th century Europeans believed that mumia, a brown powder made by grinding up mummified human flesh, was a miracle cure for various ailments such as epilepsy, hemorrhage, bruising, and nausea.

How did the word 'cannibal' originate?

The word 'cannibal' dates from the time of Christopher Columbus and may have been coined by him. It originated from the term 'Carib,' referring to a group of indigenous people who were rumored to practice violent raids and cannibalism.

What was Queen Isabella's response to the reports of cannibalism?

Queen Isabella granted permission to capture and enslave anyone who ate human flesh, based on Columbus's reports of the Caribs' cannibalistic practices.

How did Columbus's labeling of the Caribe people influence the term 'cannibal'?

Columbus began to label anyone who resisted his plundering and kidnapping as a Caribe, which eventually led to the transformation of the word 'Carib' into 'Canibe,' and then 'Cannibal.'

What is the historical complexity of cannibalism?

Cannibalism has a complex history, taking diverse forms and occurring for various reasons such as survival, medicinal use, and cultural practices across different cultures and time periods.

Why was mumia in high demand during the 15th century?

The demand for mumia increased as it was believed to have medicinal properties and could be used to treat a wide range of medical conditions. Initially, stolen mummies from Egypt supplied the mumia, but the demand soon outgrew the supply.

How was the mumia supply sustained when the demand exceeded the availability of Egyptian mummies?

When the demand for mumia exceeded the supply of Egyptian mummies, opportunists began stealing bodies from European cemeteries to produce more mumia.

What other human body parts were used in medicinal concoctions in Europe?

In addition to mumia, other human body parts used in medicinal concoctions in Europe included blood, liver, gallstones, oil distilled from human brains, and pulverized hearts.

What is an example of socially accepted cannibalism in China?

Filial cannibalism was a form of socially accepted cannibalism in China, where adult children would offer a piece of their own flesh to their sick parents as a last-ditch attempt to cure them.

How did cannibalistic funerary rites in New Guinea contribute to the spread of kuru?

Cannibalistic funerary rites among the Fore people of New Guinea, where family members would consume the body after death, contributed to the spread of the deadly disease kuru within the community.

What challenges do historians face when trying to understand the history of cannibalism?

Historians face challenges in understanding the history of cannibalism due to fictionalized stories, verifiable practices, and gaps in knowledge, which make it difficult to determine the exact prevalence and cultural significance of cannibalism throughout history.