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Cultural similarities between ancient Kmt and other areas in Africa
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by Doug M: [QB] [QUOTE]Originally posted by alTakruri: [qb] Aren't farmers indicative of the subsistence of most African cultures out numbering foragers and pastoralists combined? Can you answer the question please? The consideration made about where and when is just as applicable to foragers and pastoralist. The claim that "MOST cultures in Africa were hunter gatherers and pastorial nomads, who RARELY settled down LONG ENOUGH to build such structures" was made without regard to location or era. Also the concept of a "neolithic revolution" is outdated now. Foragers made the first settlements and permanent housing structures. Agriculture could not begin without permanent settlement of people to tend gardens and fields. And, I think, African pastoralist, especially herders, are predominantly transhumant instead of actually nomadic. Another thing to bear in mind is that these three basic methods of food procurement are not mutually exclusive. Gathering, hunting, shepherding, herding, farming, can all be practiced in a single culture pending the desired taste for the evening's meal. Even in post-industrial cultures if you have a yen for venison you most likely will have to hunt the deer down. [QUOTE]Originally posted by Doug M: [qb] [QUOTE]Originally posted by alTakruri: [qb] Aren't farmers indicative of the subsistence of most African cultures out numbering foragers and pastoralists combined? [QUOTE]Originally posted by Doug M: [qb] ... I believe that MOST cultures in Africa were hunter gatherers and pastorial nomads, who RARELY settled down LONG ENOUGH to build such structures. . . . . But back to the thread and the topic. [/qb][/QUOTE][/qb][/QUOTE]It is about when and where. Until recently, the begining of agriculture was always thought to have begun OUTSIDE of Africa. Of course up to date research is proving that false, but there needs to be more research done. Agriculture is a key event in the development of human populations, however, it is also well known that there were many pastoral groups up to and after the development of organized agriculture. I actually believe that people planting crops is far older than we think, because it may have occurred on a much smaller scale, at earlier points in history than we NOW have evidence for. Most of the evidence we have for agriculture is associated with the development of complex societies, hence, agriculture is a key aspect in tracing the development of modern civilizations. That does not mean that people were not planting things on a much smaller scale at scattered points in history PRIOR to the development of complex social structures. [/qb][/QUOTE][/qb][/QUOTE]Yes I agree that farming is a relatively settled activity. I also agree that there were MANY African groups that were practicing farming at an early period. That is WHY I stated the following: [QUOTE] Agriculture is a key event in the development of human populations, however, it is also well known that there were many pastoral groups up to and after the development of organized agriculture. I actually believe that people planting crops is far older than we think, because it may have occurred on a much smaller scale, at earlier points in history than we NOW have evidence for. [/QUOTE]Meaning that, like you said, pastoralism and subsistence agriculture are not mutually exclusive and that many of our modern ideas on ancient agriculture are tied to European definitions of historical processes associated with development of "complex" civilizations. Also, just because a community was settled or practiced agriculture, does not mean that they built in stone. Many could have used wood, mud brick or grass to build complex communities. The point being that when someone wants to find evidence of "complex" societies, they may look for evidence of stone building before evidence of wood building. Likewise, because wood and such easily decay, much evidence may have been lost over time of complex compounds which could give us a better idea of the development of African societies. So I agree that it is not accurate to say that it is a difference of pastoral/sedentary populations that would have led to the absence of stone building in most African cultures around 1000BC. There are many other factors that go into it. [/QB][/QUOTE]
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