Throughout the history of mankind, major innovations drove us forward. But as they did so, they also changed us profoundly. No great shift in the way humans lived came about peacefully or smoothly. Instead, it caused upheaval, cultural changes, migrations, and the inevitable shaping of the future. Agriculture is, without a doubt, one of the foremost of these innovations that shaped the way humans lived for millennia. It came about gradually and influenced the traditional societies of prehistory in a very profound way. And, without a doubt, it set the course for the future as we know it today. But how did agriculture impact social hierarchies of the time? Or better yet, did agriculture create them?
- Agriculture First Versus Göbekli Tepe: Prehistory Revisited
- Göbekli Tepe, Birth of Civilization and Religion
The Mobility and Egalitarianism of Pre-Agricultural Societies
Long before agriculture became a “thing” in the distant past, human societies were predominantly small nomadic groups of hunter-gatherers. Their lifestyle was largely unaltered for centuries - they crafted stone tools and migrated together with the animals they hunted. It was a simple, but efficient life. These groups were also characterized by a relatively egalitarian social structure, without castes and with minimal - if any - hierarchy. There was a strong emphasis on communal sharing, and everyone “pulling their load”. Most of the resources were gathered collectively through hunting, foraging, and fishing, and were distributed within the entire group to ensure the survival of its members. This teamwork was the key to survival and made hierarchies simply redundant. Another key factor in this egalitarian lifestyle was the mobility of the hunter-gatherers. This mobility meant that no individual or family could accumulate significant wealth (was there even a concept of wealth at that time?) or power due to the constant need to move in search of food.
Painting of ancient Egyptian farmer tilling the soil. (Public Domain)
Top image: AI image of farmer life in ancient Egypt. Source: Microgen / Adobe Stock
