Skip to main content

It is commonly believed that ancient foraging societies were deeply respectful and protective of the environment. Do you think this is true? Is...

I do not believe that all ancient foraging societies were as deeply respectful of the environment as we think. There were ways in which they were respectful of the environment, but they were not as careful of it as we tend to think.


It is true that some foraging societies did things that protected the environment.  The ancient Hawaiians would use a system called kapu, in which they would place various fish or plants...

I do not believe that all ancient foraging societies were as deeply respectful of the environment as we think. There were ways in which they were respectful of the environment, but they were not as careful of it as we tend to think.


It is true that some foraging societies did things that protected the environment.  The ancient Hawaiians would use a system called kapu, in which they would place various fish or plants under religious protection.  They would, for example, ban fishing for a specific kind of fish during a specific season of the year. In doing this, they were trying to ensure that they did not damage their environment too badly. This shows respect for the environment. Other ancient societies did similar things.


However, it is impossible to say that all ancient foraging societies respected the environment in all ways. The main evidence of this is the fact that certain societies hunted certain species into extinction (although there is some controversy over whether this really happened). The earliest Native Americans came in to a land with species that had never been hunted by people. Before long, many species (particularly megafauna) were extinct. The same sorts of thing happened in places like Australia and New Zealand.  Clearly, the ancient foraging societies in those places did not respect the environment so much that they refused to hunt species so intensively.


We tend to idealize ancient societies because we are worried about our own environmental impact.  We like to think they never damaged the environment so that we can say we should follow their example.  In my view, however, this is not true of all hunter-gatherer societies in ancient times.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why did Tybalt attack and kill Mercutio instead of Romeo, who he had originally been targeting?

Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio... Though Tybalt's quarrel is with Romeo, he begins the momentous duel in Act 3 by fighting with and killing Mercutio instead. Tybalt ultimately attacks Mercutio because the garrulous and hot-headed character insults Tybalt and goads him into a duel to protect Romeo's honor. From the beginning of the encounter in Act 3, Scene 1, it's clear that Mercutio is itching for a fight. For instance, when Tybalt signals that he wants to talk to Mercutio and Benvolio, Mercutio responds "And but one word with one of us?/ Couple it w...
Post a Comment
Read more