Why Agriculture? Climate Change and the Origins of Farming ~ Andrea Matranga

Jul 15, 2024

Andrea Matranga, an economic historian at the University of Torino, digs into the origins of agriculture and its ties to climate change. He challenges traditional views of the Neolithic Revolution, revealing why early farmers endured harder lives. Matranga posits intriguing connections between farming practices and Jupiter's gravitational influence on Earth's climate. He also discusses the spread of agriculture, highlighting social structures, technological advancements, and the overlooked complexities of hunter-gatherer life. Prepare for a fascinating blend of history and science!

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Intro

00:00 • 3min

The Neolithic Revolution Unveiled

02:38 • 9min

Revisiting Human Origins and Agriculture

11:28 • 11min

The Influence of Jupiter on Earth's Orbital Dynamics

22:06 • 3min

Climate Shifts and Early Agriculture

24:47 • 7min

The Dynamics of Agricultural Spread

32:01 • 24min

Reflections on Humanity and the Impact of Research

56:08 • 2min

Agriculture changed everything. Traditionally, this “Neolithic Revolution” was celebrated for opening the gates of civilisation. Recently, it has been compared to the original sin. But whatever our take on agriculture, we should be puzzled by one thing: Why did our ancestors start to farm in the first place?

It's not like early farmers had improved lives. Quite the opposite, they worked harder and suffered from worse health. So why did so early farmers stick to it? And why did farming spread so far and wide?

Andrea Matranga thinks he has the answer.

An economic historian at the University of Torino, Matranga links agriculture to climate change. This is not a new idea — not as such. After all, agriculture developed in lockstep with the end of Ice Ages. For years, this vague link has formed my own pet-theory on the matter.

But I never paused to reflect on the obvious problem with it. There was never an “Ice Age” in Sudan. Why didn’t humans just farm there?

Matranga has the answer to this and many other puzzles. And surprisingly, his answer is linked to the movements of Jupiter. I will let him tell you why.

We begin this episode covering some previous theories on the origins of agriculture. Next, we dissect Matranga's theory and the evidence for it. Towards the end, we talk about the spread of farming — peaceful and violent — and note a neglected downside to the hunter-gatherer lifestyle. As always, we finish with my guest’s reflection on humanity.

LINKS

You can find my summary of Matranga's theory with links to academic articles at ⁠⁠⁠OnHumans.Substack.com⁠⁠⁠.

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MENTIONS

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Natuffians | Pacific Northwestern hunter-gatherers

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