Origins of Social Inequality: Unpacking the Conventional Narrative

This chapter explores the conventional narrative of human history, which suggests that our species started as small, egalitarian hunter-gatherer groups and eventually transitioned into larger societies characterized by inequality and hierarchy. The speakers debunk this narrative, highlighting the outdated information it is based on and discussing two different stories about the origins of inequality. They also examine how these narratives intersect with colonialism and the treatment of indigenous peoples.