From the New Century Dictionary I learned that culture is defined as:
Culture: [< colere: see cult]
- The action or practice of cultivating the soil
- The raising of plants or animals, esp. with a view to their improvement
- Cultivation of micro-organisms
- Development or improvement by education or training
Common understanding says that agriculture, animal domestication, and education are what allowed cultures to develop, yet you would think that from the definition above, the growing of micro-organisms had something to do with it too.
Let’s see, history teaches us that organized religion (read belief in gods) and government sprouted as a result of man’s capacity to become sedentary. Before (agri)culture People freely roamed the Earth and after (agri)culture People began to pay taxes to rulers and make offerings to gods… if you ask me, something smells fishy…
By the way, did you know that one of the first things religious advocates did to control the native American population that survived the onslaught of new diseases brought by Europeans, was to “educate” them in the ways of (agri)culture?
What came first? The sickness that allowed viruses, bacteria, mold, and fungus to grow in people causing them to loose their capacity to be mobile and forcing them into a sedentary life that required the tilling of land and domestication of animals? Or was it eating the products from agriculture and domestication that brought sickness to the people and allowed viruses, bacteria, mold, and fungus to grow in them?
What came first, the chicken or the egg? Or perhaps more importantly, who was behind the creation of the chicken or the egg?