An Early Argument Put Forth to Highlight the Benefits of Agriculture

question 116

Essay

An early argument put forth to highlight the benefits of agriculture was that it required less time than hunting and gathering. Hunter and gatherers were sometimes characterized as unstable, living on the edge of starvation. Research has indicated the opposite, that farmers are indeed the ones that, by and large, work longer hours and are more prone to food shortages and crop failures. Discuss the costs and affordances that each subsistence system has.

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Definitions:

Vested Interest

A personal stake or involvement in an undertaking or situation, especially where one stands to gain from a particular outcome.

Diseases

Abnormal conditions affecting the body of an organism, often characterized by specific signs and symptoms, and not resulting directly from physical injury.

Developed Nations

Countries that have a high level of economic development, standard of living, and industrialization, along with well-established infrastructure.

Infant Mortality

The death of children under the age of one year, often used as an indicator of the health and well-being of populations.