EH.Net Abstracts in Economic History

                ABSTRACTS IN ECONOMIC HISTORY
                     (c) 2002 EH.Net
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Name: John Komlos
Email: JK at econhist.de
Institution: University of Munich

Co-author: none

Title: Access to Food and the Biological Standard of Living: 
Perspectives on the Nutritional Status of Native Americans

Internet Address of abstracted work:
http://www.vwl.uni-muenchen.de/ls_komlos/indians.pdf

By mail:

Language: English

Abstract:
The high nutritional status of native American equestrian tribesmen 
in the middle of the 19th century is in congruence with our knowledge 
of the physical stature of many other pre- and early-industrial 
groups living in comparable environments. Being tall was the standard 
on the North American frontier prior to the acceleration in 
population growth and the concomitant urbanization, 
industrialization, and commercialization of the late antebellum 
decades. The phenomenon of tall plains Indians fits rather neatly 
into a by now well-established pattern, according to which prior to 
the age or refrigeration propinquity to the sources of food conferred 
considerable nutritional advantages.

Bibliography: Komlos, John. "Access to Food and the Biological 
Standard of Living: Perspectives on the Nutritional Status of Native 
Americans." University of Munich, Working Paper 2002.

Subject: U
Geographical Area: 7
Country/Region: American West
Time Period: 7

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