The Economic and Political History Podcast Our Obsession with Human Origins: Inventing Prehistory | Stefanos Geroulanos with Javier Mejia
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May 25, 2024 Stefanos Geroulanos, Director of the Remark Institute and a professor at NYU, discusses his book 'The Invention of Prehistory.' He examines how Enlightenment thinkers shifted views on human origins, impacting notions of race and imperialism. The conversation delves into the allure of prehistory, the evolution of cultural hierarchies, and how Darwinism influenced political ideologies. Geroulanos also critiques historical narratives regarding Neanderthals, revealing how ideologies shape our understanding of identity in contemporary contexts.
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Presentism in Prehistory
- Our obsession with human origins reveals more about our present than the past.
- We project present-day concerns onto the past to justify current beliefs and anxieties.
Inventing Prehistory
- Prehistory as a concept emerged in the 1860s.
- Before, discussions centered on those outside of religious or recorded history.
Tripartite Views
- Tripartite views (e.g., Stone, Bronze, Iron Age) simplified world categorization for intellectuals.
- This view facilitated narratives of progress and cultural superiority, justifying colonialism.
