Spencer Wells

Pandora's Seed

1. IDEA 1

   Farming opened Pandora's box

   Wells argues that the shift from hunting and gathering to farming brought great benefits but also unexpected costs. Many modern problems trace back to this change about ten thousand years ago.

2. IDEA 2

   Food supply let populations grow

   Wells explains that farming produced more food, allowing populations to grow rapidly. Larger, settled communities changed how people lived and related to one another. Villages grew into towns and cities.

3. IDEA 3

   Animals brought new diseases

   Wells describes how living close to domesticated animals exposed people to new infections. Many diseases jumped from animals to humans in early farming communities. Measles and flu are examples. Crowded villages helped germs spread fast.

All 8 ideas from Pandora's Seed →