Driving Forces Behind Advancements in Beekeeping
I would enjoy hearing others opinion
concerning the driving forces behind
the advancement of beekeeping throughout
history. This opinion needed to help
me create a timeline.
Science is a major driving force behind
advancements in beekeeping, so I
suppose posting to this list is prudent,
and one would hope, might draw interest
OR participation.
I have put together a little time line
of the Eras in Beekeeping. The driving
forces which appear to separate these eras,
strongly correlate with the advancing of
knowledge derived from bee literature and
science.
Now, as many seem to place Langstroths
invention of a movable frame hive with
bee space "as an era". This, IMO does not
constitute an era, and would fall under
sub folder; 'innovations in beekeeping'
which would be properly categorized under
the era of "Early Modern". So I'm not looking
for dates for inventions such as extractor
etc.,,, (those are inventions, NOT eras)
IMO, What constitutes an era in beekeeping
are advancements in bee literature and science.
Bee Historians may perhaps agree that
the driving forces behind advancements
in beekeeping are:
1. Bee Literature
2. Bee Science
3. Dissemination of Information
4. Innovations in Beekeeping
I intend to tweak the time line to show
that advancements in beekeeping do follow
the above 4 criteria.
Perhaps, due to recent concerns about pesticides
and pharmaceuticals in the food chain, One could
argue for the addition of 'consumer demand' rising
to the status of a 5th 'driving force', beginning to
influence change in beekeeping during the late
20th. century. Of course, much of this was facilitated
by science becoming aware of the health dangers
of pesticides and pharmaceuticals in the food chain,
so it may be science driven as well Or instead.
The time line is listed below.
Much of the information, in this letter was gleaned
from some of the most prominent writers in bee
literature, so one might be careful in crucifying the
information in this post too hastefully. But I do
wish to hear good input, so please fire away.
Here is the rough draft of the timeline I am working
on. If you have additional information, or a 'better
description in which to name the era', please post
it on list OR off list. ,,,I need opinions to help
form the timeline as accurately as possible.
The dates are somewhat rounded off to
an approximate estimation of the nearest century.
Timeline
Era - 100 Million BC to 15000 BC
The Prehistoric Era
The Prehistoric Era begins with the earliest archaeological
evidence for the origin of honeybees, and ends with
the earliest direct evidence of mans association with honeybees.
Era - 15000 BC to 3000 BC.
The Hunter Gatherer Era
The Hunter Gatherer Era begins with the earliest direct
evidence of mans association with honeybees, and
ends with the earliest direct evidence for domestic beekeeping.
Era - 3000 BC to 1399
The Ancient Beekeeping Era
The Ancient Beekeeping era begins with the earliest direct
evidence of domestic beekeeping, and ends as expanding
knowledge of science and rational thinking in general, begin
to promote a very basic knowledge of the habits of honeybees,
and methods of beekeeping subsequently improve.
Era - 1400 to 1799
Middle Times Era
Middle Times era begins as expanding knowledge of science
and rational thinking in general, begin to promote a very basic
knowledge of the habits of honeybees and methods of beekeeping
subsequently improve. During this era, beekeeping literature is
rich and extensive. The era ends with an expanding knowledge in
science, and beekeeping literature becoming very extensive,
but nevertheless of high quality.
Years 1800 to 1899
The Early Modern era
The Early Modern era begins as beekeeping literature is becoming
very extensive, high quality, and free from the pedantic tendency
which was characterized in earlier bee literature. This is a period
of invention, science and innovations in beekeeping. The era ends
as high quality science, industrial revolution, and development of
pharmaceuticals began to permit large scale commercial bee
business; the distribution of bees, bee products and bee appliances
throughout the world.
Years 1900 - 1999
The Modern Era
The Modern Era begins as the advancements from the
industrial revolution began to permit large scale commercial
bee businesses and distribution of bees, bee products
and bee appliances throughout the world. High quality
science permits the development of pharmaceuticals in
the bee industry for the control of diseases and pests.
The era ends as health concerns over the effects of
pharmaceuticals and pesticides in the beekeeping
industry become the main driving force. This force,
often facilitated by the rapid dissemination of
information over the internet of high quality, lesser
quality, or altogether erroneous.
Years 2000 to Present
The Advanced Modern Era
The Advanced Modern Era begins as dissemination of
information characterized towards the end of the Modern
Era accelerates. Environmental and food safety concerns
facilitate a resurgence of homestead beekeeping. And
efforts towards shifting away from the use of pharmaceuticals
and pesticides in the beekeeping industry begins to accelerate.
Best wishes
Joe Waggle
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/HistoricalHoneybeeArticles/
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