SHEEP, GOATS, PIGS, CATTLE AND CHICKENS [PART 1]
The Agricultural Revolution The Agricultural Revolution (12,000 years ago) marked an important chapter in the evolution of Homo sapiens. In fact, it is identified as the most significant, out of the revolutions. One key phenomenon was the domestication of animals (although this is secondary to the domestication of wheat and vice versa). What interests me is ‘how’ this was achieved. The multi-million copy bestseller ‘Sapiens; A Brief History of Humankind’ by Prof. Yuval Noah Harai provides a much-needed insight. Nomadic bands stalked wild sheep gradually altering the constitutions of the herds. Humans developed skills in selective hunting to suit their needs. Careful selection of the most aggressive unruly sheep most resistant to human control were slaughtered first. The skinny ones with curiosity were slaughtered too. Apparently, the shepherds are not fond of such curious sheep who would break away and wander far from their herd. The most submissive and appealing on...