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