Empire: World History 49. The Dawn of Everything
93 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.
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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.
Corvée Labor in Uruk
- Uruk, the earliest known city, had a system of corvée labor where free people worked for the king.
- While slaves existed, they weren't central to the economy, and corvée functioned like a form of taxation.
