Human and Animal Interrelationships from Domestication to Present (Term Paper Sample)

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Human and Animal Interrelationships from Domestication to Present
Introduction
Domestication of animals began when man changed animal species so that they could live effectively together. The process of animal domestication required the ability by man to successfully change animal behavior during the historical era of domestication. This required proper handling and management skills including the ability to empathize with animals. Domestication process also involved physical and emotional intimacy between animas and humans. This significantly determined the selection of the most suitable animals for domesticating (Price 11). To date, animal domestication has become a common phenomenon across the world. People in various communities around the world domesticate a wide range of animals for various purposes. The level of intimacy between animals and humans varies across societies and animal species. This paper analyzes the human and animal interrelationships from domestication era to present.
There is no clear definition of what constitutes the bond between animal and humans. However, it is evident that the relationship between animals and humans is based on various factors. This relationship could be for predatory purpose of economic dependence, companionship, sporting purposes and domestication, among others. However, many scholars perceive human animal relationship as the companionship between animals and humans. Across history, human beings have had a wide range of relationships with animals.
Evidently, humans use animals for various purposes. This significantly determines their relationships with such animals. According to Price (23) the relationship between human and animals varies depending on the significance of the animals to human life. In this regard, humans express no interest in animals that are perceived to be irrelevant to their lives. Based on this assumption, hunting societies tend to express a great interest in their animals. In such societies, people develop significant cultural practices that are aimed at ensuring their success while hunting. On the other hand, people in pastoralist societies develop a close relationship with animals that they depend on for their cultural and physical survival. In such communities, humans develop intimate relationship with their animas, usually cattle. This also the case with nomadic and those people who domesticate animals for subsistence and other commercial purposes. In addition, people who use their animal for work or sporting activities tend to develop close relationships with these animals.
Research has also ascertained that the extent to which an animal impact on the survival of humans significantly influences the relationships between humans and these animals (Price 61). It is generally accepted that the more dependent people are on certain animals for survival, the more close their relationship with these animals are. For instance, modern commercial farmers may find animals important for their economic survival. For this reason, they tend to develop a strong bond and close relationship with these animals. Even so, the number of these animas may prohibit the bond and close relationship between humans and the animals.
At this point, it is important and necessary to analyze the relationship between animals and humans within the above mentioned societies. In hunter-gathering societies, people tend to depend on a wide range of animas and plants for their daily survival. They depend on animals such as fish, birds, insects, reptiles and other mammals. For the humans to successfully and effectively utilize these animals in such societies, they have to possess a fully understanding of the behavior of such animals. Usually, this knowledge is transferred across generations (Dolins,112) For instance, in such societies, they need to understand that when it comes to harvesting honey, they have to know when the honey will be available, how to access the bee nests and how to harvest the honey while preventing stings. When hunting large animals, people in hunting societies they require skills, knowledge and cooperation aimed at hunting successfully. This is because hunting larger animals is more dangerous. In such instances, the hunter has to develop some interests and emotional relationship with their target animals.
In societies that domesticate animals on the other hand, humans also develop varied relationships with the animals. Humans domesticate a wide range of animals for various purposes. The most commonly domesticated animals in many societies include sheep, goats, cows, donkeys, camels, dogs, cats, among others. These animals serve different purposes in human life. They are a source of food through milk, meat and blood. They are also a source of shelter through their skins and fibers. They are also used for protection purposes, transportation, manure and other social needs. As such, people who domesticate animals tend to develop s stringer relationship with such animals.
In regard to pastoralist societies, these are people who live in areas that are not suitable for agriculture. People in such societies depend on their animals for survival. For them, these cattle are fundamental to their survival as well as cultural expression. As such, they develop stronger relationships and bond with their animals. In some pastoral...