Why are the changes of the Neolithic sometimes mistakenly associated with progress?

Answer 1

The changes that the Neolithic people experienced and inventions that affected them culturally, are mistakenly associated with progress however they also impacted them negatively. Inspection of their teeth shows that they are less robust and have experience less stress and wear. Their bodies in general have experienced less stress and are evident by the lack of osteoarthritis in examined skeletons. The invention of food production and effective agriculture lead to nutritious, high calorie diets which ultimately contributed to their worsened health after the Neolithic's switched to sedentary lifestyles. Stress was not evident until high population density and sedentism because it caused a dependence on agriculture. Diseases were the result from their new change in lifestyle because of the build-up of waste and poor sanitation. Close association with domestic animals also brought upon diseases. The Neolithic's high mortality rates from their nutritious diets was eventually offset by increased fertility because the population grew dramatically as the health and mortality worsened.

Answer 2

The changes of the Neolithic, such as the development of agriculture and settling in permanent communities, are often mistakenly associated with progress because they are viewed as advancements in human civilization. However, this viewpoint overlooks the negative impacts of these changes, such as increased social inequality, the rise of Infectious Diseases, and environmental degradation, which may not necessarily be considered progress for all individuals or societies.