Where Would We Be Without Flatware?
Life without Flatware
Flatware was not always a part of peoples' lives. For most of human existence hands and fingers, contaminated though they may be, were the utensils of choice out of necessity. Consider that the use of eating utensils, what we call flatware, did not come about until much later in the development of civilization. The article that follows delves into that, and makes it clear that we are truly better off for using knives, forks, spoons when we dine.
Like most people, you have very likely never thought much about flatware and the need for such a common utensil. But in the earliest days of civilization, mankind ate most of their food with their fingers and hands. Naturally, this changed as progress marched on and mankind moved away from the primitive methods of eating that marked the dark and early days of civilization. Unknown to early man, the fingernails and hands themselves are badly contaminated with all manner of dirt and disease, leading to all manner of difficulty with illness and sickness.
It is very likely that early mankind started off eating food with objects that they simply found laying about. Utilizing this early form of silverware, they were most likely concerned with keeping the burning and scalding food away from their fingers, more so than protecting themselves from bacteria. After all, early mankind would have had any clue of bacteria or germs to begin with. With his complete ignorance, there would have been no real motivation to protect themselves from disease. The use of flatware in these early days very likely had much to do with mankind survival into the modern day, despite their complete ignorance of the fact.
As time passed, flatware very likely became a must-have item for those who wished to keep the organisms and bacteria that exists in the fingernails out of their mouth, leading to the general upward climb in the health of the population over the years. While the implementation of silverware had very likely nothing to do with bacteria, as early man was probably unaware of the existence of this type of organism, the effort to keep the heat of the food away from their fingers very likely lead to this lack of contamination and increase in levels of hygiene and the use of flatware in general.
While we take flatware and basic hygiene for granted in the modern day, in the early days of the Dawn of Man, it probably never occurred to anyone that germs or bacteria actually existed, much less existed in the hands of mankind itself. In fact, flatware was very likely invented out of the need to remove the heat of the food from the hands, as it was very likely uncomfortable and caused pain for the somewhat less intelligent forebears that might not have been aware of any type of hygiene to begin with.
The earliest forms of flatware were very likely formed from animal bones or wood and in these early days of man's ingenuity, were very likely a great success and highly effective at eliminating much of the illnesses and diseases that were inflicted upon man by rampant bacteria. Without this early version of flatware, mankind very likely would never have seen the dawn of civilization, as a constant war with illness and sickness would have resulted had this simple invention not been struck upon.
While we don't think twice about flatware in the modern day, purchasing silverware at the department store and using it without a second thought, it's interesting to consider how difficult this particular function would have been for early man. Without metallurgical skills or even the knowledge of bacteria to motivate them, mankind simply struck upon flatware very likely accidentally, making all the difference between survival and extinction for the human race.
In the modern day, flatware has become extremely common and is made from many different types of materials. There are plastic types of flatware that used in fast food facilities, although it up to silver and stainless steel, which are far more common in the home. Nearly any type of substance can be turned into some type of flatware, and all of these types of products can be found at your local department store. Flatware is second nature to mankind in the modern day, having been handed down from generation to generation over the centuries. With the convenience of different types of manufacturing, it is unlikely that you can find any home that doesn't have plenty of flatware, including Forbes, knives, spoons and all manner of other utensils. It is a far cry from the early days of wooden flatware and sharp bones, but we can still see the earliest prototypes of flatware in the products that we use in the current day.