The Evolution of Man - The History of Hunting

Perhaps one of the eldest activities on the face ofThe Romans, took hunting as a sport to a whole
the planet is hunting. The history of hunting, as anew level, capturing prey alive for sale or gladiatorial
result, is also one of the most diverse. Hunting forcompetitions. Only certain individuals were hunters,
food has always been something that human kindallowing the select men to feed those in their
has had to do, dating back to the beginning of anycommunity.The Third Era, The Middle AgesPerhaps
civilizations known to man.As a result of this, thereone of the most interesting times in the history of
have been thousands of weapons and devices usedhunting, is the middle ages. This is the period in time
to hunt. The history of hunting is far morewhere hunting for food was a vital part of life for
complicated than any other history in the world, as itmany, though restricted. Rules on hunting, such as no
stretches so far into the past. In order to understandhunting in the King's Forest, was the first real
this history, you need to break down and study eachrestrictions on hunting present in the world. Only the
era where hunting has been a major part of life.rich prospered, and the surf classes hunted whatever
While there are exact time lines of when certain gunsthey could, when they could for survival. Hunting,
or weapons were produced, understanding thefrom boar to deer to fox hunting, became primary
importance of hunting should be done on a farsports for the nobility of the time frame. This started
broader scale. There is much more to the history ofthe trend of organized hunts for sport.Colonists to
hunting than when the gun was created.The First Era,the New World required as much hunting skills as
Pre-CivilizationIn this time frame, from before greatpossible, during this period of time, although they
cities to the first starts of basic civilization, the humanprogressed quickly from relying on scavenging and
race survived on their skills of scavenging and hunting.hunting to creating farms and plantations. Popular
In cultures similar to those of the first era andweapons for use in hunting during this time period
pre-civilization, women had the roll of caring for thewas forms of archery, slings and throwing spears.
home and preparing the food brought in by the men.The gun was also used, although it had not quite yet
Some portions of modern day Africa have conditionsreached full levels of popularity.The Fourth Era, The
similar to this, where they do not have a great dealIndustrial PeriodOn the heels of the Middle Ages was
of money, and a similar style of hierarchy. The menthe Industrial period. This era stretched from beyond
all learned how to hunt, and they held these huntsthe 1700s until just after the start of the 1900s. The
daily to feed themselves. Unlike today, all hunting wasevolution of machines brought about great changes in
for survival, and none of it for sport. All of thehunting. Large farms became very popular, where
materials from the killed animals was used, from thelivestock was raised instead of the practice of
bones to the pelt. Hunting was also a method ofhunting wild animals, downgrading hunting to only
determining who was the bravest warrior. Thebecome a past time. Guns, ranging from muskets to
bravest would hunt the ferocious creatures that livedrifles, were being to be used extensively. Archery
nearby their homes. These kills were a vital part ofwas downgraded to sport use only, though it was
the early hierarchies.A wide variety of differentvery popular for tests of skill.Present DayThrough
weapons were used during this era, from slings tothese stages of the history of hunting, humans have
spears crafted of wood and stone. For large prey,perfected this activity, with a wide range of
the hunters would work together in packs, similar toweapons. Archers, for example, have many types of
how a wolf hunts to bring down their quarry. Thebows to choose from. Arrows are just as plentiful as
only trophies kept were antlers and teeth.bows, from metal to wood, with many different
Occasionally the skulls would be kept as decoration ortypes of tips. Guns have evolved the same way,
as symbols of the clan or family group. This oldestwith many types of bullets and guns for different
form of hunting was the basis in which the presenttypes of hunting. Special guns and equipment
was formed.The Second Era, Growth of CivilizationAsdesigned for moose hunting, for example, wouldn't be
people gathered together and civilization really began,the same as deer hunting supplies.Competitive
the role of men as hunters changed as well. Cities, byhunting, such as fox hunting, is still greatly enjoyed
their very nature, require a variety of people with aby many people who prefer a little more action to
lot of skills. There needed to be craftsmen andtheir hunting. In the modern world, safety and skill are
weavers, animal handlers and other trades so thatthe requirements for hunting, and it is open for
everyone could have access to everything theyanyone who is willing to learn proper weapon handling
needed. Instead of the split between men andand obtain all of the documents necessary to hunt.
women, hunting became the task of those mostRegulations on guns and hunting have been
suited for hunting. These were usually always men,developed to prevent species from going extinct.
as it was looked down upon for women toWhile hunting is still very popular, the modern day has
participate in this line of work.This was also thea lot more restrictions that in any other era in the
turning point where hunting becoming a sport.history of hunting.Each of these eras of the history
Civilizations, such as the Babylonians, the Egyptians,of hunting have done a lot for the sport and trade,
and the Romans all had their hunters and craftsmen.giving it a rich heritage that shouldn't be forgotten.