Chapter
The Era of the First Global Village
02:10 - 19:05 (16:55)
Our concept of civilization has a particular direction as we're taught to believe that the invention of agriculture set in motion a chain of consequences that would shape our modern world. However, there was a long period of around 4,000 years after the invention of agriculture where villages remained villages and rigid social classes did not emerge, leading to the era of the first global village.
Clips
The period following the invention of agriculture saw technological and social innovations that enabled humans to thrive without rigid social hierarchies, social classes, or centers of power.
02:10 - 08:13 (06:02)
Summary
The period following the invention of agriculture saw technological and social innovations that enabled humans to thrive without rigid social hierarchies, social classes, or centers of power. This era of the first global village challenges traditional notions of civilization and progress.
ChapterThe Era of the First Global Village
EpisodeA new understanding of human history and the roots of inequality | David Wengrow
PodcastTED Talks Daily
The idea that the invention of agriculture meant the departure from an egalitarian society is a misconception.
08:12 - 19:05 (10:52)
Summary
The idea that the invention of agriculture meant the departure from an egalitarian society is a misconception. Evidence shows a variety of social experimentation before farming, and it's wrong to assume that large-scale societies must have top-down structures of management.