Empire 49. The Dawn of Everything
61 snips
May 4, 2023 David Wengrow, an esteemed archaeologist and anthropologist, delves into the complexities of ancient societies and the roots of slavery in conversation with the hosts. He challenges conventional beliefs about hierarchy, suggesting prior egalitarian cultures existed even before agriculture. Wengrow unveils fascinating findings from archaeological sites, like the comfort of pyramid builders, and sheds light on the intricate labor dynamics of ancient Egypt. His insights weave a rich tapestry, questioning what we think we know about history and social structures.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Challenging the Slavery Narrative
- The standard narrative suggests slavery arose with agriculture and cities.
- However, evidence shows hunter-gatherers formed diverse societies, some egalitarian, before agriculture.
Göbekli Tepe: A Prehistoric marvel
- Göbekli Tepe, a site in Turkey from the last ice age, features monumental buildings predating agriculture.
- These elaborate structures, possibly temples, suggest advanced societies existed before farming.
Flexible Hierarchy
- Göbekli Tepe's builders seemed to switch between hierarchy and equality depending on the time of year.
- This suggests early societies were not fixed but could adapt their social structures based on resource availability.
