Main ThemesSimple Agrarian SocietiesAdvanced Agrarian SocietiesSoci111 – Human SocietiesModule 11 – Agrarian SocietiesFrançois NielsenUniversity of North CarolinaChapel HillOctober 21, 2014OutlineMain ThemesSimple Agrarian SocietiesAdvanced Agrarian SocietiesMain ThemesIinvention of wheel, use of the plow, animal traction, andother technologies bring about momentous socialtransformationsIexpansion of surplus brings about trends ofIincreasing differentiationIurbanizationIinequalityIsize of societiesIemergence of universal faithsIetc . . .Simple Agrarian SocietiesFirst Simple Agrarian Societies = First CivilizationsSimple Agrarian SocietiesTechnology – Plow & Animal Traction ComplexEmergence of agricultureIfrom Latin ager “field”Imarked by use of the plow (perhaps as early as 6thmillenium BC)Ifirst agrarian civilization about 3,500 BC inMesopotamiaPlow permitsIbetter control of weedsIbringing back leached nutrients to the surfaceIharnessing animal power (oxen), from which . . .Imanure is produced, which can be used as fertilizerPlow literally “changes the landscape”.Simple Agrarian SocietiesTechnology – Early Egyptian ox-drawn plowSimple Agrarian SocietiesTechnology – Peasant Using Traditional Plow in IranSimple Agrarian SocietiesTechnology – Early Potter’s WheelSimple Agrarian SocietiesTechnology – How to make a wheel out of a logIwheel first used aspotter’s wheelIoriginates in ancientSumer, Mesopotamia ca4,500 BCIwagon wheel made fromslice of log does not workImust be made with plankslike so . . .Imade possible by metalsawSimple Agrarian SocietiesTechnology – Wheeled VehiclesICan you see the wagon onthe Bronocice pot?IFunnel Beaker culture,southern Poland ca4,500–3,500 BCIoldest evidence for wagonuseIWas wagon invented inEurope?Simple Agrarian SocietiesTechnology – Wheeled Vehicles (other evidence)Ionager-drawn wagons on Standard of Ur, ca 2,600 BCIgraves with people in wagons in northern Caucasus, ca3,700 BCSimple Agrarian SocietiesTechnology – Expansion of the SurplusIadoption of the plow & associated technologies (wheel,animal traction)I→ increased productivity of laborI→ tremendous expansion of surplus (=production inexcess of what is needed to keep farmers alive andproductive)I→ momentous social consequences. . .Simple Agrarian SocietiesIdeology – Temple-Centered ReligionIe.g. religions of Sumer & EgyptIjustify exploitation of surplusIthrough obligation of sacrifices & tributes to godsItemples serving as “warehouses”Itemple-centered religion → invention of writingIoriginally used for temple accountingSimple Agrarian SocietiesIdeology – Temple-Centered Religion (Luxor, Egypt ca 1400 BC)Simple Agrarian SocietiesPopulation – Growth Through ConquestIEgyptian soldiers attacking a fortress ca. 1940 BCIcommunities & societies grow in sizeIoften through conquestSimple Agrarian SocietiesPolity – Trends in the PolityIgrowth of the State becauseIsocieties larger & more complexI→ kinship ties no longer sufficient as organizing principleIemergence of government bureaucracies staffed byscribesIemergence of professional armies becauseImen now cultivate (plow) the fieldsIsocieties larger → wars longer (see next exhibit)Ilarger surplus can support specialized (non-productive)class of soldierIemergence of formal legal systems (replacing bloodrevenge by relatives)Iused to incorporate diverse population resulting fromconquestIe.g. Code of Hammurabi, Babylon ca 1,700 BCSimple Agrarian SocietiesPolity – State Bureaucracy: Organizational Chart of Government of EgyptSimple Agrarian SocietiesPolity – How Larger Size of Societies Entails Longer WarsSimple Agrarian SocietiesPolity – Professional ArmiesIQ – Which modern“state” still has a(foreign)professional army?IA – The Vatican(Swiss Guard)IDan Brown’s novelAngels & Demonsfeatures the SwissGuardSimple Agrarian SocietiesPolity – Professional ArmiesIQ – Which modern“state” still has a(foreign)professional army?IA – The Vatican(Swiss Guard)IDan Brown’s novelAngels & Demonsfeatures the SwissGuardSimple Agrarian SocietiesEconomy – Trends in the EconomyIemergence of monetary systems (= standard medium ofexchange)Ifirst based on grain (but bulky)Ilater based on metallic currenciesI→ expansion of tradeIQ – Why is exchange based on money more efficient thanbarter?Iconsequences of expansion of tradeIemergence of merchant classIincreased complexity of division of laborIincrease in individualism?Simple Agrarian SocietiesStratification – Trends in Social StratificationIlarger surplus → greater inequalityIstratification system characterized by 3 coincidingcontrastsIgoverning class vs. the massIurban minority vs. peasant majorityIliterate minority vs. illiterate majorityIresulting inItwo distinct subcultures (urban elite vs. the peasantmass)Icultural differences within agrarian societies greaterthan differences between themSimple Agrarian SocietiesSlowdown in Rate of Technological Innovation – V. Gordon Childe’s ThesisIslowdown in technological innovation ca 2,600 to 600 BCIdue to high level of social inequality?Simple Agrarian SocietiesSlowdown in Rate of Technological Innovation – Caused by High Inequality?Highlevels of exploitation and inequality, so thatIpeasants – have expertise; no incentive for innovation asbenefit exploited awayIelites – no expertise; prefer conquest for increasingwealthSimple Agrarian SocietiesReview QuestionsIQ – Which of the following trends are consequences ofthe shift from horticulture to agriculture?Igreater involvement of men in farmingIfields kept continuously under cultivationIthe growth of urban populationIexpansion of the surplusIQ – Did the slowdown in the rate of technologicalinnovation during the agrarian era originate inIdeclining trade?Ideclining birth rates among the elite?Ian increasing store of cultural information?Ithe nature of the stratification system?Iincreasing birth rates among the peasants?Advanced Agrarian SocietiesTechnology – Iron SmeltingIadvanced agrarian societies marked by iron metallurgyIe.g. ancient Rome, Western European societies until ca1750, colonial AmericaIiron smeltingIca 1,400 BC – developed by Hittites of Asia MinorIca 1,200 BC – diffusion of technique beginsIca 800 BC – iron used for common toolsIQ – Why did iron technology emerge so late?IA – One reason is difficult chemistry of ironIcast iron (2.5% to 3.5% carbon) too brittleIwrought iron (no carbon) too softIsteel