Good Eats Class Review

The great civilizations of history were formed through the gathering of populations in central locations. As populations massed together, the subsistence strategies of the people changed, as did their diets. For example, the earliest civilizations expanded their agricultural efforts, built new structures and tools to support agriculture, developed markets and new forms of exchange, and transformed their diets through innovations in food acquisition, preparation, and serving.

What foods made the great civilizations in history possible? That is, discuss one or two of the early metropoles (from Tannahill, for example) and elaborate on the foods that were essential to those populations.

Must see: Animal husbandry, reliance on grains, crop rotation

Want to see: annona, clean and unclean food

GENERAL IDEAS

As humans began to live in larger populations (e.g., villages and towns), their reliance on agriculture increased. Agriculture provides large amounts of food, some of which can be stored or preserved for the year. Eventually, larger scale agriculture required a more efficient plough, one that could be drawn by draft animals. Crop rotation was an important development for soil/nutrient conservation.

Rome: previously citizen farmers worked family farms for subsistence, polycropping and keeping animals. When Rome began to urbanize in 550BC, land was cleared for roads, housing became nucleated, eventually poor were in apt. buildings! Conquests and wars of expansion (huge growth, 1 million slaves in J. Caesar's conq. of Gaul alone) contributed land to "grain-producing regions" so that polycropping was on the decline; landholding patterns changed Ð'- landowners (latafundia) farming for profit now. Annona necessary by 123 BC. Led to feast and famine, sharp differences b/t rich and poor (poor unable to cook, ate "street food", little meat).

Egypt/Byzantium/Arab states: wheat (raised); Judaism Christianity and Moslim present; great diversity of deity

across entire expanse; the Salerno regimen and diet was considered key to health; nomadism and its effects on diet (Jewish pork); early polytheism and its effects on diet

China: rice, soy bean, tea; absence of dairy/grazing lands so depended on technology that was 1000 years ahead of Europe (ploughs, fertilizers, insecticides). Nomads are not an example of a great civilization.

Discuss and critique the three theories addressed by Tannahill to explain India's sacred cow including the vegetarian principle, the value and benefits of dairy, and the historical and religious prohibitions of Hindus, Buddhists and Jains. Clearly address and use specific details for each theory, then be sure to discuss how these different factors may have interacted to produce the beef taboo we see today.

VEGETARIAN PRINCIPLE

Buddhism and Jainism share belief in sanctity of all life. Jains "insist", Buddhists "encourage" vegetarian deity

. Both rejected caste but not karma (transmigration of souls, including that of a cow).

VALUE & BENEFITSPage: 1

By 1949, there was a bill of rights for cattle in India. Reasons: (1) increased population about 2000 years ago; (2) farmers had to keep agriculture going and, so, needed cattle to pull plows (simultaneous crop cycles); (3) the cow produces oxen, so not killed; (4) Zebu cattle are not great milk producers but survive in drought and without food, highly resistant to diseases, recover quickly when food/water present again; (5) cows scavenge; (6) dung used for fertilizer and fuel; (7) food for lowest ranking castes; (8) taboo as disaster insurance (don't butcher cows during most difficult dry months). Puranas (ancient stories) tell of concentric circles of which several are dairy products.

HISTORIC/RELIGIOUS

Vedic law and Buddhism allow beef.

Explain the East African cattle complex. Be sure to address a variety of cultural, environmental, and nutritional aspects of this system. Then explain its existence from an ecological perspective.

(from Farb/Armelagos unless stated) Southern Soudan into S. Africa; cattle valued for prestige, power, ceremonial, emotional (Harris says pet); Karimojong of NE Uganda; cattle seals contracts; NOT used for agriculture (compare to Hindu India?); environment badly overgrazed; cows provide small amount of milk; rainfall sparse so horticulture not very productive; cattle can best take advantage of sporadic rainfall and coarse grasses/shrubs it produces ("larder on the hoof") thereby making blood/milk that humans CAN digest; ceremonial slaughters occasionally Ð'- meat given through redistribution (compare to Ongka?); cows are more valuable than stored grain b/c they produce calves (compare to Hindu India?); history of warfare and raiding discourages selective breeding, improved lands, or smaller herds; sale of even best cattle does not bring price that is nutritionally equivalent to milk/blood or sometimes the beef. Ecological perspective focuses on these environmental