Farming Trap

http://www.ditext.com/diamond/mistake.html

Jared Diamond argues that agriculture was catastrophe, not progress

Hunter-gatherers had diverse diets, ample leisure time, fit bodies, deep connection with nature, and superb survival skills - like free wild animals compared to farm animals.

• Hunter-gatherers thrived for 99% of human existence
• Agriculture appeared only in the final minutes of our evolutionary “day”
• People adopted agriculture not by choice but necessity to feed growing populations
• Farming supported more people (100x density) but with poorer quality of life
• Agricultural societies outbred and conquered hunter-gatherers

• “Might makes right” - 100 malnourished farmers could defeat one healthy hunter

• Hunter-gatherers ate diverse foods (75+ wild plants for Bushmen)
• Farmers relied on few starchy crops lacking essential nutrients
• Life expectancy dropped from 26 to 19 years
• No stored food meant no elite class could exist before farming
• Agriculture enabled elite classes
• Class and gender divisions appeared
• Crowded settlements enabled epidemics like plague