Which of the following methods was historically used to keep bees?

Historically, the destruction of the whole hive was a method used to keep bees primarily in times of illness or when beekeepers needed to collect honey. This practice often came about when beekeepers could not maintain the health of the colony through other means or when disease management was poorly understood. By destroying the hive, beekeepers could sometimes remove the source of infection or pests that were harming the bees.

During earlier periods of beekeeping, when knowledge of bee biology and management techniques were limited, this method may have seemed necessary to ensure the survival of the remaining colonies or to protect other hives from disease. It reflects a time when beekeeping was more about survival and less about sustainable management practices.

Other methods, such as the vertical hive system, observation hives, and top-bar hives, developed later with advancements in understanding bee behavior and reproductive cycles, as well as improved hive designs that allow for better management and observation without needing to destroy the colonies.