Dietary Cannibalism Essay Example

Cannibalism is the act or practice of eating human flesh by mankind. When cannibalism is talked about, most think of humans eating other humans. That is not true. Cannibalism is seen in all living things. Cannibalism has been considered to be a psychosexual or fetish disorder. The term cannibalism derives from the name of the West Indian Carib tribe. It was first documented by Christopher Columbus. The Carib tribe was alleged to eat others, as where the Aztecs who practiced exocannibalism. Exocannibalism is the ritual religious sacrifice and eating of war captives, strangers, and enemies. Survival cannibalism is when human flesh is eaten as a last resort after a person has died. Dietary cannibalism humans are purchased or trapped for food and then eaten as a part of a culture’s tradition. Cannibalism existed years ago and is still seen in the modern world today. Cannibalism is something that was an issue in the past, was often seen in religious matters and exists in animals when in act of survival is necessary.
The practice of cannibalism reaches back into ancient times and has been found in many areas of the world. Evidence indicates that it may have been practiced as early as the Neolithic Period. Herodotus the Greek historian and other ancient writers gave accounts of various ancient people as being cannibals. Marco Polo reported tribes ranging from Tibet to Sumatra who practiced cannibalism. North American Indian tribes of the western coast of the Gulf of Mexico practiced cannibalism. Recently the practice prevailed throughout much of central and western Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Melanesia, Sumatra, New Guinea, Polynesia, and remote portions of South America. In the early historical era Cannibalism was documented in Egypt during a famine caused by the failure of the Nile to flood for eight years. During the Middle Ages in Europe, the Great Famine of 1315-1317, there were widespread reports of cannibalism throughout Europe.