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The Neolithic Revolution and Human Societies: Diverse Origins and Development Paths

Author

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  • Serge Svizzero

    (CEMOI - Centre d'Économie et de Management de l'Océan Indien - UR - Université de La Réunion)

  • Clement Allan Tisdell

    (UQ [All campuses : Brisbane, Dutton Park Gatton, Herston, St Lucia and other locations] - The University of Queensland)

Abstract

Many economists have recently tried to explain the diverse levels of economic development of countries by studying their trajectories during past eras and in recent history. Special attention has been given to the influences on contemporary societies of relevant developments in prehistory and more particularly, those arising from the Neolithic revolution, i.e. the transition from foraging to farming. This transition from simple to complex hunting and gathering and then to farming is a sequence couched in social evolutionary terms. It suggests a pattern of progressive development resulting in increasing cultural complexity. In this evolutionary scheme, simple hunter-gatherers develop into complex hunters and collectors, whose critical economic decisions are a consequence of climatic changes that inevitably lead them to irreversibly adopt agriculture. Although this pattern of development is widely accepted, we challenge it. Studies of past and recent hunting and gathering societies show an incredible diversity of human social organization through time. Similarly, the various centers where agriculture started during the Neolithic period display great diversity in terms of their genesis, nature and consequences. The nature of the spread of agriculture from the Levant to Europe displays diversity. Demic diffusion and cultural diffusion were both present, and generated a variety of diffusion processes. This diversity of human societies is not easily accounted for by social evolutionary processes; indeed, people's understanding of the world directly influences the economic decisions they make. The development of agriculture eventually generated an economic surplus. This (combined with increasing social and economic inequalities), another feature of the Neolithic revolution, led to economic growth and therefore to the long-term dominance of agropastoralists societies. Inequality (the appropriation by dominant classes of the economic surplus generated by agropastoralism and by stemming economic developments) was therefore a necessary early condition for increasing the chances of the survival and development of these societies; otherwise they would all have been caught in the Malthusian trap.

Suggested Citation

  • Serge Svizzero & Clement Allan Tisdell, 2014. "The Neolithic Revolution and Human Societies: Diverse Origins and Development Paths," Working Papers hal-02153090, HAL.
  • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:hal-02153090
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.univ-reunion.fr/hal-02153090
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    3. Bandara, Ranjith & Tisdell, Clement A., 2005. "The History and Value of the Elephant in Sri Lankan Society," Economics, Ecology and Environment Working Papers 55092, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
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    5. repec:tiu:tiutis:fe79a9d2-e9e3-4dbc-9539-cdece886993d is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Tisdell, Clement A. & Swarna Nantha, Hemanath & Wilson, Clevo, 2005. "Public Valuation of and Attitudes towards the Conservation and Use of the Hawksbill Turtle: An Australian Case Study," Economics, Ecology and Environment Working Papers 55066, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    7. Tisdell, Clement A. & Wilson, Clevo, 2004. "Birds in an Australian Rainforest: Their Attraction for Visitors and Visitor's Ecological Impacts," Economics, Ecology and Environment Working Papers 51296, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    8. Tisdell, Clement A., 2005. "The Environment and the Selection of Aquaculture Species and Systems: An Economic Analysis," Economics, Ecology and Environment Working Papers 55091, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    9. Tisdell, Clement A., 2005. "Economic Incentives for Global Conservation of Wildlife: New International Policy Directions," Economics, Ecology and Environment Working Papers 55060, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
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    15. Tisdell, Clement A. & Swarna Nantha, Hemanath & Wilson, Clevo, 2004. "Endangerment and Likeability of Wildlife Species: How Important are they for Proposed Payments for Conservation," Economics, Ecology and Environment Working Papers 51419, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    16. Tisdell, Clement A. & Wilson, Clevo & Swarna Nantha, Hemanath, 2004. "Public Support for Sustainable Commercial Harvesting of Wildlife: An Australian Case Study," Economics, Ecology and Environment Working Papers 51418, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
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    18. Tisdell, Clement A., 2005. "Knowledge about a Species' Conservation Status and Funding for its Preservation: Analysis," Economics, Ecology and Environment Working Papers 55065, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
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    20. Clevo Wilson & Clem Tisdell, 2007. "How Knowledge Affects Payment To Conserve An Endangered Bird," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 25(2), pages 226-237, April.
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    23. Tisdell, Clement A., 2006. "Poverty, Political Failure and the Use of Open Access Resources in Developing Countries," Economics, Ecology and Environment Working Papers 55094, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    24. Lyster, Thorbjorn, 2004. "What are the Economic Prospects of Developing Aquaculture in Queensland to Supply the Low Price White Fillet Market? Lessons from the US Channel Catfish Industry," Economics, Ecology and Environment Working Papers 51410, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    25. George Grantham, 2006. "Prehistoric Origins Of European Economic Integration," Departmental Working Papers 2006-28, McGill University, Department of Economics.
    26. Tisdell, Clement A. & Wilson, Clevo & Swarna Nantha, Hemanath, 2004. "Australian Tropical Reptile Species: Ecological Status, Public Valuation and Attitudes to their Conservation and Commercial Use," Economics, Ecology and Environment Working Papers 51408, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    27. Tisdell, Clement A. & Wilson, Clevo & Swarna Nantha, Hemanath, 2005. "Dynamic Processes in the Contingent Valuation of an Endangered Mammal Species," Economics, Ecology and Environment Working Papers 55064, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    28. Areendam Chanda & Louis Putterman, 2007. "Early Starts, Reversals and Catch‐up in the Process of Economic Development," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 109(2), pages 387-413, June.
    29. Tisdell, Clement A. & Swarna Nantha, Hemanath, 2005. "Management, Conservation and Farming of Saltwater Crocodiles: An Australian Case Study of Sustainable Commercial Use," Economics, Ecology and Environment Working Papers 55068, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    30. Oded Galor & Omer Moav, 2007. "The Neolithic Revolution and Contemporary Variations in Life Expectancy," Working Papers 2007-14, Brown University, Department of Economics.
    31. Tisdell, Clement A. & Wilson, Clevo & Swarna Nantha, Hemanath, 2005. "A Report on the Management of Saltwater Crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) in the Northern Territory: Results of a Survey of Pastoralists," Economics, Ecology and Environment Working Papers 55089, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    32. Clement A. Tisdell, 2013. "Competition, Diversity and Economic Performance," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 13026.
    33. Tisdell, Clement A. & Wilson, Clevo, 2004. "Information and Wildlife Valuation: Experiments and Policy," Economics, Ecology and Environment Working Papers 51409, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    34. Tisdell, Clement A., 2004. "Nature-based Tourism and the Valuation of its Environmental Resources: Economic and Other Aspects," Economics, Ecology and Environment Working Papers 51297, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    35. Tisdell, Clement A. & Swarna Nantha, Hemanath, 2005. "Comparison of Funding and Demand for the Conservation of the Charismatic Koala with those for the Critically Endangered Wombat Lasiorhinus krefftii," Economics, Ecology and Environment Working Papers 55067, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    36. Tisdell, Clement A. & Wilson, Clevo & Swarna Nantha, Swarna, 2005. "Crocodiles Farms and the Management of Saltwater Crocodiles in the Northern Territory: Results of a Survey of NT Crocodile Farmers plus Analysis of Secondary Information," Economics, Ecology and Environment Working Papers 55090, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    37. Tisdell, Clement A. & Wilson, Clevo & Swarna Nantha, Hemanath, 2004. "Dependence of public support for survival of wildlife species on their likeability," Economics, Ecology and Environment Working Papers 51413, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    38. Tisdell, Clement A. & Wilson, Clevo, 2004. "Economics, Wildlife Tourism and Conservation: Three Case Studies," Economics, Ecology and Environment Working Papers 51416, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    39. Wilson, Clevo & Tisdell, Clement A. & Merritt, David, 2004. "Glow Worms as a Tourist Attraction in Springbrook National Park: Visitor Attitudes and Economic Issues," Economics, Ecology and Environment Working Papers 51298, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    40. Tisdell, Clement A. & Wilson, Clevo & Swarna Nantha, Hemanath, 2004. "Dynamic Processes in Contingent Valuation: A Case Study Involving the Mahogany Glider," Economics, Ecology and Environment Working Papers 51414, University of Queensland, School of Economics.
    41. Horan, Richard D. & Bulte, Erwin & Shogren, Jason F., 2005. "How trade saved humanity from biological exclusion: an economic theory of Neanderthal extinction," Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization, Elsevier, vol. 58(1), pages 1-29, September.
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