Besides that I think some archeologists often fail to compare the boundary conditions under which past societal norms were shaped relative to those we have today. For example, it’s a lot easier to imagine an egalitarian structure to be acceptable amongst members of a community when we didn’t have that much skill difference or specialization, or when society was just you and your tribe. We have a lot more information, historical baggage and means of self-realization now. Tbh, I find some researchers divorced from reality (the kind of stuff that gives rise to realpolitiks) but maybe I am just stupid.
Interesting research to bring up, but I think there are a lot of valid points brought up against some of his and his colleagues’ work. Here’s a blog by someone who has the same politics as him: https://climateandcapitalism.com/2021/12/17/the-dawn-of-everything-gets-human-history-wrong/
Besides that I think some archeologists often fail to compare the boundary conditions under which past societal norms were shaped relative to those we have today. For example, it’s a lot easier to imagine an egalitarian structure to be acceptable amongst members of a community when we didn’t have that much skill difference or specialization, or when society was just you and your tribe. We have a lot more information, historical baggage and means of self-realization now. Tbh, I find some researchers divorced from reality (the kind of stuff that gives rise to realpolitiks) but maybe I am just stupid.