The origins of agriculture: Population growth during a period of declining health
GJ Armelagos, AH Goodman, KH Jacobs�- Population and environment, 1991 - Springer
GJ Armelagos, AH Goodman, KH Jacobs
Population and environment, 1991•SpringerThe increase in the Neolithic human population following the development of agriculture has
been assumed to result from improvements in health and nutrition. Recent research
demonstrates that this assumption is incorrect. With the development of sedentism and the
intensification of agriculture, there is an increase in infectious disease and nutritional
deficiencies particularly affecting infants and children. Declining health probably increased
mortality among infants, children and oldest adults. However, the productive and�…
been assumed to result from improvements in health and nutrition. Recent research
demonstrates that this assumption is incorrect. With the development of sedentism and the
intensification of agriculture, there is an increase in infectious disease and nutritional
deficiencies particularly affecting infants and children. Declining health probably increased
mortality among infants, children and oldest adults. However, the productive and�…
Abstract
The increase in the Neolithic human population following the development of agriculture has been assumed to result from improvements in health and nutrition. Recent research demonstrates that this assumption is incorrect. With the development of sedentism and the intensification of agriculture, there is an increase in infectious disease and nutritional deficiencies particularly affecting infants and children.
Declining health probably increased mortality among infants, children and oldest adults. However, the productive and reproductive core would have been able to respond to this increase in mortality by reducing birth spacing. That is, agricultural populations increased in size, despite higher mortality, because intervals between births became shorter.
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