“The Worst Mistake in the History of the Human Race.”
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The Worst Mistake in the History of the Human Race
Jared Diamond published a controversial article in Discover Magazine: “The Worst Mistake in the History of the Human Race.” The article drew a lot of criticism upon its release in 1987.Several scholars expressed their views about it with some supporting its assumptions while others discredited it.The bone of contention was on its proposition that the introduction of agriculture was a disaster for humans, hunting and gathering were superior to farming. Diamond followed the “Noble Savage” philosophical reasoning believing that the source of mankind ills is his society and his interaction with others. He traced many problems human beings encounter with the environment they had created, in particular through agriculture (Cahoone 2006).I support Diamonds argument based on findings of research conducted on the issue.
Domestication of plants and animals began in the Neolithic period dating 13000-5000 years ago. This period is associated with the hominids Homo Sapien and Homo Sapien Sapien. The first animal that was domesticated is the dog (Diamond 2005). Those who were against Diamonds argument pointed out to origin of human civilization from the Neolithic Revolution to Age of encounter. Focus was in the rise and growth of early agriculture in Egypt and Mesopotamia. They supported the two ideas that lie in these two time periods, that no civilization arose in isolation but always as a consequence of interrelation with neighboring people and that one must view human history from a global point of view incorporating all people and their social, economic and political interaction (Cahoone 2006).Mesopotamians started keeping animals and growing cereals such as peas, beans and lentils. They also kept various animals such as sheep,