"the archaeological record is very clear that farming always predates cities,"
Except for Gobekli Tepe (and maybe Çatalhöyük) where it seems like the city was started before agriculture. But those places seem to be the exceptions that prove the rule as well as having been one-offs and not to have contributed anything to the rest of human history as far as we can tell
They are complicated cases. Gobekli Tepe is a ritual centre that does seem to have local residences, though the sequence of construction is less clear. They are clearly consuming significant grains and planted vegetables, so it is during the transition to farming. It is dated as a Neolithic construction, albeit an early one.
Catalhoyuk is significantly later (so definitely Neolithic), and seems to be during the domestication of animals (they are still getting significant meat from hunting) so it does seem to be a farming settlement. It’s ritual life seems to be very household-based.
Good stuff; one point though: the reason for farming is probably booze. A foraging society cannot make a reliable supply of alcohol, a farming community can. The crippling health costs of being a farmer will not dissuade an alcoholic. Pottery recovered from early farming communities shows evidence of being used to make and store alcohol. Finally, (admittedly a very minor point), the oral histories that became genesis has farmers as violent drunks, compared to the peaceful herders.
Alcohol is definitely part of the mix. At a certain level of crowding, you need alcoholic beverages. But, given how many places developed farming independently, it is unlikely alcohol was the key factor. Especially as farming was fairly clearly developed by women. Farming generally doesn’t become a predominantly male activity until the invention of ploughs.
Lorenzo giving insight into why we are the way we are yet again.
Thanks for writing.
"the archaeological record is very clear that farming always predates cities,"
Except for Gobekli Tepe (and maybe Çatalhöyük) where it seems like the city was started before agriculture. But those places seem to be the exceptions that prove the rule as well as having been one-offs and not to have contributed anything to the rest of human history as far as we can tell
They are complicated cases. Gobekli Tepe is a ritual centre that does seem to have local residences, though the sequence of construction is less clear. They are clearly consuming significant grains and planted vegetables, so it is during the transition to farming. It is dated as a Neolithic construction, albeit an early one.
Catalhoyuk is significantly later (so definitely Neolithic), and seems to be during the domestication of animals (they are still getting significant meat from hunting) so it does seem to be a farming settlement. It’s ritual life seems to be very household-based.
Good stuff; one point though: the reason for farming is probably booze. A foraging society cannot make a reliable supply of alcohol, a farming community can. The crippling health costs of being a farmer will not dissuade an alcoholic. Pottery recovered from early farming communities shows evidence of being used to make and store alcohol. Finally, (admittedly a very minor point), the oral histories that became genesis has farmers as violent drunks, compared to the peaceful herders.
Alcohol is definitely part of the mix. At a certain level of crowding, you need alcoholic beverages. But, given how many places developed farming independently, it is unlikely alcohol was the key factor. Especially as farming was fairly clearly developed by women. Farming generally doesn’t become a predominantly male activity until the invention of ploughs.
given alcohol makes people more violent, it is worse in crowded environs.
people also developed alcohol independently - it occurs naturally.
Not sure what point you are making with women; they are just as likely to be alcoholic, and 'make me a sandwich' is a meme for a reason.
Fair. I was perhaps too impressed by later myths that have male drinking parties.
Also a fair point! It's hard to image Zeus being *sober*