Social Change

From Chap 10 (not assigned)

Three great evolutionary transformations:

1. The Neolithic Revolutions2. The rise of agrarian states3. The Capitalist Revolutions

Will there be a fourth trans? (Marx, etc.)

Social Change

Chap 2 The emergence of village life

From nomadic H-Gs to settled “tribal” life

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Chap 3 Expansion (as surplus grows)

Tribes to Chiefdoms to State Civilizations

Growing complexity

Surplus, Trade, Property

The State becomes the “driver” of development

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Chap 4 Agrarian States

Five Characteristics:

1. Nobility – Peasantry (basic classes)

< 5% > 95% exploitation by organized military force --- extraction of surplus - rent, taxes, tribute

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2. Most production still for use, not exchange

-- and surpluses are still relatively small.

Many merchants were rich, but low status,(like organized crime bosses today)

Marginalized

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3. Little organized class conflict or resistance by peasants.

• Conflict of interests? • sporadic class conflict (e.g., “robin hood”

legends)• peasant rebellions• etc.

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4. Held together by military force

-- not religion or “tradition”

The Church increasingly sided with the nobility/landowners and became a major landowner itself – peasants resisted thechurch too in favor of earlier pagan beliefs.

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5. Very slow social change

Little basic change over many centuries

-- but led to big leap -- Feudalism/Capitalism.

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Why such slow change?? During and after the neolithic revolutions change was rapid and accelerating.

HG -> P&H -> AG -> STATE & CIV over a few thousand years.

Then more than 4000 years until next major change (capitalism). Why?

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1. No incentives for either nobility or peasants to improve.

peasants - gains taken away (exploitation)

nobility - easier to expand (conquest)

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2. Instability of rule by nobility

-- in-fighting over wealth/power, wars(i.e., surplus taken from peasants)

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How did capitalism ever emerge under these circumstances??

Long-term, gradual “behind back” changes.

Social Change

Population growth • Growth in size and power of states/empires

• Technological growth (economy and military)

• Expansion of trade (geographic and scale)

Scans

Sanderson p. 103

Sanderson page 104

Sanderson page 112

Enlargements

Summary --

Up to about 1500

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During 4,500 years (3000 bc to 1500 ad)

Growth and collapse of agrarian-based empires -

not just Rome, all over the world. Urban elites vs. Rural peasants focus on extraction of surplus. Easier to conquer than control –

but diminishing marginal returns.

Social Change

With expansion of trade

From water to land transport (slower, less efficient).

Much larger military to support (parasitic population).

Local elites competing for piece of pie.Unconquered “barbarians” nibbling at edges of

empire.Internal conflict among elites.

Social Change

These changes + circumstances of 3 classes

Nobility -- Parasite class living off surplus of peasants - taken by force,

traditional urban-based aristocracyInflexible and unable to adaptProblems growing larger (military, internal conflict, resistance)

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Peasants -- Traditional, rural, agriculture, life unchanging over centuries, generation after generation. Merchants -- Outcasts, but growing richer, more organized, technologically advanced, etc.

“a cancer growing on agricultural societies”