Economic History Ch1

first agricultural revolution in history— neolithic revolution

10-120000 years ago.

when hunter gatherers began settling down, building villages and cultivating land. EG Central and Western Europe in 6000 to 3500 BCE, wheat introduced

spurs population growth (still very slow, but faster than before)

where did autonomous transition to agriculture occur ?

In locationssuited for abundance of wild species of plants and animals for domestication

Cons of initial agrarian society

• spurred by a need to feed growing populations

• less nutritious, shorter stature

• disease from animals

• longer and harder work

Pros of agrarian society

• could organize in a more advanced way

• division of labor

• complex social structure

• writing allowed generational transmission of knowledge

urban revolution of theBronze Age

Europe and Asia 3000 BCE — cities begin to emerge.

sharp increase in economic and social complexity (EG Eurasian states systematic taxation_

social stratification → encouraged greater advancement in tech and knowledge

Why were other parts of the world not contenders for the Great Divergence?

• asian domesticated animal species (brought to europe) far superior to americas and oceania. Cows, horses, wheat

• LATITUDINAL EXPANSION much easier than longitudinal climate changes. Eurasia is long and diffusion of knowledge was easier than in areas with lots of geographic barriers.

• americas disadvantaged bc humans arrived later (originating horn of africa)

strategies used in inherent exploitation ofland

PRIVATE PROPERTY AND INHERITANCE.

land became more productive and valuable→, became important to control its ownership between generations. Used endogamous marriage. eurasia

during the Bronze Age’s urban revolution, did Africa keep up?

no, were slower and less capable at organizing.

lower land value → no private property or inheritance

delays in state institution development, limited protection of private property, and little economic stratification

Why were agrarian societies less complex and stratified than industrial + society?

Still very rural. 1300s only 6-8% urban population in Western Europe

• labor divided by age and sex, not ability

• shared knowledge, not competitive

• production of limited needs kept local

• only ~9% of production sold at market for money

what prevented population growth of agrarian societies?

inability to create a surplus beyond what they needed to survive. prone to famines. this is not true all over eurasian agrarian societies

solidarity in villages in eurasian agrarian society

matrimonial strategies created strong family relationships.

inheritance to daughters made choice of husband very important

the solidarity provided made them more resilient to agrarian hardship like famine

where were markets located in pre-industrial economies?

the city, strongly controlled as thats where civil institutions sat. Also where more complex goods and essential services produced

were agrarian societies completely without progress?

no, just slow.

europe heavy plough 7th century

3-year crop rotation system 8th century

Roman Empire watermill became widespread in 6th century

ideas and tech travelled across eurasia, j

key economic and family institutions across Eurasia

• private property

• education

• marriage strategy

• inheritance

Malthusian Trap

technological advancement → too much population growth → equilibrium only achieved through mortality crises.

better living conditions → more kids → abundance of labor leads to higher wages and therefore living ocnditions worsen again.