Enslavement of animals

Thousands of years before the Agricultural Revolution, the first animal probably domesticated by humans was the wolf. Hunters needed its help in tracking and hunting prey, and gradually they began approaching it by offering food. Over generations, the wild wolf was transformed into humanity’s first loyal companion: the dog. All other animals, however, continued to live freely in the wild. But when humans settled permanently in one place and began cultivating the land, they quickly realized that animals could serve many purposes. Why carry heavy loads themselves when wild donkeys could do it? Why constantly hunt wild sheep and pigs when they could keep them nearby? And why should milk belong only to the young of animals and not also to humans?


Within a few centuries, humans succeeded in domesticating the most useful and gentle animals. The creatures that once roamed freely across the plains gradually became more and more dependent on human beings. Different peoples domesticated different species according to the needs and environment of their region. The Lapps domesticated the reindeer, the peoples of the Andes the llama, the Arabs the camel, and the inhabitants of the Asian steppes the horse, while goats, sheep, cattle, and chickens spread almost everywhere. Animal husbandry developed alongside agriculture and in many regions became the main source of food and wealth.

Throughout history, however, humans have often treated animals with cruelty. They used them in wars, burdened them with loads beyond their strength, sacrificed them in religious rituals, and frequently turned them into instruments of entertainment. In arenas and public spectacles, countless animals were tortured and killed before cheering crowds. Even in the modern age, despite technological progress, millions of animals continue to live under conditions of extreme confinement in industrial farming facilities. Many are born and raised without ever knowing freedom, the natural world, or even the presence of their mothers. The calf that today grows trapped inside a narrow cage, destined solely for meat production, might thousands of years ago have run freely across the plains beside its herd. The domestication of animals was one of the most important turning points in human history. It gave rise to animal husbandry, transportation, and entirely new ways of living and working. At the same time, however, it marked the beginning of a relationship of dependence and domination between humanity and the animal world.

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