#prehistoric population dynamics

[viraltrendsspot]

The Relationship Between The Last Modern Humans and Neanderthals

Journey back 47,000 years to witness the surprising romance between Neanderthals and early humans.

[whencyclopedia]

Casas Grandes

Casas Grandes or Paquimé was a major pre-Columbian city that flourished due to its extensive trading networks between c. 1150/1200-1450 CE in the northwest of present-day Chihuahua, Mexico. Casas Grandes is one of the largest and most important archaeological sites in the Oasisamerica region, and the city played a key role in the transmission of knowledge and goods between the cultures of the Pre-Columbian desert southwest and those of Mesoamerica. The construction of Casas Grandes is widely attributed to people who demonstrated the marked characteristics of the Mogollon culture, which existed from c. 200-1450 CE in what is now southern New Mexico and Arizona as well as northern Mexico, but a lively scholarly debate continues as to the exact ethnicities and origins of the peoples who lived in and founded Casas Grandes. Although only 20% of the site has been excavated and surveyed, UNESCO designated Casas Grandes as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998 CE.

Geography & Origins

Situated at the foothills of the Sierra Madre Occidental Mountains and the headstream of the Casas Grandes River (Spanish: Río San Miguel), Casas Grandes or Paquimé is located in what is now the Mexican state of Chihuahua. Blessed in terms of hydrology, Casas Grandes is positioned between many rivers: The Río Bavispe and Río Yaui lie to the west of the Sierra Madre, and the Río Bravos and Río Carmen lie to the east. The city is 56 km (35 miles) south of the city of Janos and 240 km (150 miles) northwest of the city of Chihuahua. Casas Grandes' archaeological zone covers 146 hectares (361 acres), and the city covered over 750,000 m2 (185 acres) at its height. (This is 27 times larger than Chaco Canyon's Pueblo Bonito.) Casas Grandes' periphery included an estimated 10,000 additional inhabitants. Around 350 settlements of varying size existed in close proximity to Casas Grandes, but scholars and archaeologists believe that Casas Grandes' zone of political influence only extended some 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the city's center.

The region had been inhabited by indigenous peoples for thousands of years before the community at Casas Grandes began to coalesce into a sizable, organized community in the latter half of the 12th century CE. The early inhabitants were sedentary agriculturalists who built pithouses around open plazas, hunting wild game for food. Maize was the staple crop, but agave, mesquite beans, piñon, squash, and walnuts were also cultivated.

Many scholars and archaeologists characterize Casas Grandes as the largest and most complex prehistoric site in the desert southwest with high degree of sociopolitical complexity. However, the exact genesis of Casas Grandes around c. 1200 CE remains a matter of much speculation and fierce debate. Casas Grandes emerges as a dynamic polity and cultural center in a period immediately following a massive decline and dispersion in the populations of the Anasazi, Mogollon, and Hohokam between 1150-1300 CE. While some scholars explain Casas Grandes' rapid rise to prominence via a series of migrations southwards by inhabitants belonging to those cultures, others see a more localized origin for Casas Grandes' spectacular rise.

Continue reading...

[serpentface]

Are the Wildfolk, as an in-universe myth, based off of something that actually exists in the world of Blightseed, or are they entirely folklore? It seems that belief and perception can genuinely influence the presence of the supernatural, at least when it comes to deities, so I was curious if the wildfolk are in some way real within the setting.

I honestly prefer to keep it ambiguous as to which folkloric beliefs have a material component in the form of a living god so there's no dynamic introduced where some religions are 'CORRECT' next to other ones (and either way, living gods are effectively created by people as a result of folklore development and not the other way around). I only really establish living gods as 'canon' when they are like, characters, or their direct interactivity with mortals is so significant that their material existence is unambiguous. So the answer is 'could be idk'.

There's only one established 'living god' loosely attached to the wildfolk mythos, which has probably faded into nonexistence in the contemporary (living gods lose their definition when they are either culturally forgotten or their mythos is so widely disseminated that the physical entity becomes redundant, (as such they are substantially less common than in ancient times as a result of a more interconnected world)). It was depicted as a giant eagle with the head of a woman in art by ancient proto-Finn tribes, and seems to have been a tutelary deity of sorcery. It is half-remembered in contemporary Finn culture as the malevolent sorcerer goddess Birrunag (who is not associated with eagles, but is said to use crows as spies and messengers). The only direct proof that this was once a living god is a relic of a gigantic flight feather unlike that of any known bird (which has since been lost, but its existence was widely recorded in historical sources).

The legendary wildfolk witch Bernike mentioned in the prev post (and the concept of the witches as a whole) is a distant echo of this tradition (the collective Hill Tribes developed from a single population of proto-Finns who dispersed across the inner seaway during their prehistory). Wildfolk witches have a strong association with eagles, and some Bernike stories echo Birrunag stories in ways that suggest descent from the same prehistoric source.

[hygienic-soap-dispenser]

4, 13, 42!

Omg omg my first actual ask hello hi!! <3333

4. What's a headcanon you need to work out?

There are actually a lot of headcanons where I feel I need to figure things out! One of the biggest ones that I have trouble with is figuring out where countries come from and how. I previously liked to imagine that they had parents or ancestors for the stories and narratives that you can tell with that, but then you have to think about family lines and lineages and ~all of these things~ and it just ends up taking up so much headspace that it makes worldbuilding unnecessarily complicated.

Figuring out hws Finland's origins is especially difficult since prehistoric Finnish history is relatively unknown and vague: there were little to no written records of Finland before Christianization, populations were scarce and divided into diverse Tribes, and Finnish soil is very acidic which means that artifacts and fossils dissolve uber fast and it doesn't leave much for the archaeological record womp womp 😔

In the end I just decide to opt for "they popped out and grew very slowly and people took notice that they're special", but I won't lie, I still like the idea of nations having parents or biological families because I feel it would make things more interesting and dynamic. But on the other hand, I feel like it would make things more constrained and strict, y'know? Like you can't just act any way towards family and putting characters into a familiar dynamic just sort of sets it into one specific relationship for the rest of their lives. Also I feel having bio families makes all of the inter-nation relationships much more complicated; I can imagine that after a while all the nations would be related to one another lol.

Honestly, I would in the end much prefer a more mentorship or found family dynamics style for nations as opposed to strict families, since then relationships can be flexible and change over the years, but are still in the end rooted in those foundational moments.

Alternatively, I like to think that they were born from regular people, and that their parents and the village/community realized that they're special, either through their slow growth, or maybe a shamanic prophecy or local legends or something, I think that'd be really cool!!

13. What song gets you daydreaming about Hetalia?

That's a good question!! Honestly don't know what to really say here bc our most holy Finland takes up 95% of my headspace so if there's a song that I like, I can absolutely make it about him. I often listen to movie, show, and video game soundtracks, pop and rock, and have recently had a lot of Antti Tuisku, Erika Vikman, and Bess stuck in my head and Spotify sooooo... Finnish pop anyone? 👀👀

42. Any Hetalia merch (og or fan-made) rave-worthy?

I'm sorry anon but I don't have any Hetalia merch or have anything that is "rave-worthy" 🙈 In general I don't really buy fandom merch unless I absolutely love it. Most Hetalia merch feels too "plasticy" to me and most of what I have from Hetalia is from my friends and fanart <3333 The closest thing to actual merch that I have is a t-shirt with Varric from Dragon Age, it's my workout shirt 💪😎✨

I've only been to one rave in my life: got some glowsticks w friends, danced to loud EDM, and the people around us got really weird and touchy-feely so we left early :'D (yes we went to the rave sober... it was at a con)

[borderlinebrooke-bpd]

What is Attachment Theory?

According to Wikipedia, Attachment theory is a psychological, evolutionary, and ethological theory concerning relationships between humans.

Attachment - defined as, a “lasting psychological connectedness between human beings.”

To elaborate. A need for human connection is naturally embedded in our programming.

In prehistoric times, those that relied on themselves were far less likely to survive than those who had at least one other person close to them. Having someone that intimately cares for you makes you far less susceptible to many kinds of dangers than if you're always "watching your own back." Due to this, over time, our #AttachmentSystem developed and is genetically passed on to ensure our survival.

Your attachment system is the part of you that tracks the availability of your attachment figures, or those you have an intimate bond with. Parents, siblings, partners, children, etc.

Yes, we all have an Attachment System, but the way we attach ourselves to others varies from person to person.

Attachment Theory doesn't care what race, gender, nationality, sexual orientation, or religion you are. Everybody falls under 1 of these 4 categories.

The 4 Attachment Styles:

Anxious Preoccupied:

An #Anxious individual craves intimacy, and their relationships are generally the center of their attention. They have a super sensitive attachment system, always on high alert for anything that might threaten their relationships. The slightest hint of an issue is all it takes to activate this attachment system. (Consuming thoughts and strategies for reestablishing the connection to their loved one.) Once activated, it requires "proof" that the relationship is safe before it will shut back down.

Of all the styles, research suggests that Anxious Preoccupied is the most intuitive to other people's emotions. Jumping to conclusions, however, is not uncommon. It's important for anxious individuals to remember to not jump the gun and react with emotional mind. If wise mind is applied, an anxious individual can hold a pretty powerful intuition card.

Around 20% of the population has an Anxious Preoccupied attachment style.

Dismissive Avoidant:

A #Dismissive individual associates intimacy with a loss of independence and therefore tries to minimize the amount of it in their life. They have the mindset that "my needs are rarely ever met, so I'll just take care of myself."

Avoidants are the worst of all the styles at reading the emotions of others, not only because they try to avoid emotions in general, but also because they don't feel like it's their responsibility to do so. They would far rather downplay the emotion if necessary, than have to face it.

Research also shows that Avoidands don't really date other Avoidans. They also tend to spend more time single than the other styles, so you're more likely to find them in the dating pool than Secure or Anxious individuals. After the mid 20's Secure people are usually married, and anxious people tend to stay in relationships even if they are short-lived.

Disorganized / Fearful Avoidant:

The #Disorganized style has a very hot and cold dynamic as individuals with this style flip back and forth between Anxious and Avoidant. They can idealize someone one day and completely ignore them the next. It's a combination of craving affection and avoiding closeness at all costs.

Luckily, it's the rarest of all the styles, as it's the hardest to live with for obvious reasons. Though it's not ideal, until you become secure, being one or the other, (anxious or avoidant) you are used to the "way you are." Disorganized individuals can flip to anxious or avoidant at any point, depending on what it was that triggered their attachment systems activation.

Around 3-5% of the population has a Disorganized Fearful Avoidant attachment style.

Secure:

A #Secure individual feels comfortable with intimacy and for the most part, has no issue trusting that their needs will consistently be met. They are comfortable with their emotions, and the emotions of others. They don't worry that their partner is cheating, or assume people are going to walk out of their life at any point.

Naturally, reports show that couples with two secure partners tend to be the happiest couples. Surprisingly though, couples with one secure and one insecure partner report around the same level of success. This goes to show that a secure partner can help tremendously in the healing of an insecure partner.

Around 50% of the population has a Secure attachment style.

Each of the Attachment Styles differ in a lot of ways. Such as views on intimacy, relationship expectations, sexual preference, fighting style and conflict resolution, communication skills, and the way we interpret things.

When we speak, only 7% of the message is conveyed by the actual words we say. 93% of the message is conveyed through tone, body language, facial expressions, etc.

If I could recommend one thing to all families and couples involving a member that is Anxious, Avoidant, or Disorganized. It would be to learn as much as you can about Attachment Theory and your particular Attachment Styles. Knowing is the first step to healing, but also to preventing avoidable conflicts.

With effort and determination, you can work together towards a Secure Attachment for all.

Be sure you don't confuse an activated attachment system with love. This is NOT what nature intended for you.

-Borderline Brooke

[ibkhan2001]

A Comprehensive Guide to Anthropology Optional Syllabus for UPSC with Vishnu IAS

Choosing the right optional subject for the UPSC Civil Services Exam is crucial, as it can significantly impact your overall score and ranking. One of the popular choices among aspirants is Anthropology, known for its relatively concise syllabus and scoring potential. At Vishnu IAS, we provide comprehensive guidance on the Anthropology optional syllabus, helping students navigate this subject with confidence and clarity. In this article, we will delve into the structure and content of the Anthropology optional syllabus, offering insights and strategies to excel in this subject.

Understanding the Anthropology Optional Syllabus

The Anthropology optional syllabus for UPSC is divided into two papers: Paper I and Paper II. Each paper carries 250 marks, making a total of 500 marks. The syllabus covers a wide range of topics, from the fundamentals of anthropology to the application of anthropological knowledge in Indian society. Here’s a breakdown of the syllabus:

Paper I: Fundamentals of Anthropology

Paper I focuses on the basic concepts and theories of anthropology. It is divided into two sections:

Section A: Introduction to Anthropology

Meaning, Scope, and Development of Anthropology: This topic covers the definition, scope, and branches of anthropology, including physical, social, and cultural anthropology.

Relationships with Other Disciplines: This includes the relationship of anthropology with other social sciences like sociology, psychology, history, and biology.

Main Branches of Anthropology: Physical anthropology, social-cultural anthropology, archaeology, and linguistic anthropology are the main branches covered.

Human Evolution and Biological Basis: Topics such as theories of evolution, genetics, human variation, and adaptation are explored here.

Section B: Social and Cultural Anthropology

Concept of Culture and Society: Understanding the basic concepts of culture, society, civilization, and social stratification.

Marriage, Family, and Kinship: This section covers the various forms and functions of marriage, family, and kinship systems in different societies.

Economic Anthropology: The study of how different societies organize economic activities, including production, distribution, and consumption.

Political Anthropology: Analysis of power, authority, and governance in different cultural contexts.

Religion and Magic: The role of religion, rituals, and magic in various societies.

Paper II: Indian Society and Culture

Paper II focuses on the anthropological aspects of Indian society and culture. It includes:

Section A: Evolution of Indian Culture

Prehistoric and Protohistoric Cultures in India: Understanding the prehistoric and protohistoric cultures, including archaeological findings and cultural transitions.

Vedic and Post-Vedic Periods: The cultural evolution during the Vedic and post-Vedic periods, including the social, economic, and religious aspects.

Indian Civilization: The development and characteristics of Indian civilization through various historical phases.

Section B: Demographic and Ethnographic Aspects

Demographic Profile of India: The demographic features of India, including population dynamics, migration, and urbanization.

Indian Society: The structure and composition of Indian society, including caste, class, tribe, and gender.

Indian Village and Town: The social structure and cultural patterns in Indian villages and towns.

Tribal Communities in India: The characteristics, distribution, and problems faced by tribal communities in India.

Linguistic and Religious Diversity: The diversity of languages and religions in India and their impact on society.

Why Choose Anthropology as an Optional Subject?

Concise and Manageable Syllabus

The Anthropology optional syllabus is relatively concise and can be completed in a reasonable timeframe. It is less vast compared to other optional subjects, making it easier to revise and retain information.

Scoring Potential

Anthropology is considered a scoring subject due to its scientific approach and objective nature. The syllabus includes well-defined theories and concepts, which can be effectively presented in the exam.

Relevance to General Studies

Many topics in the Anthropology syllabus overlap with the General Studies papers, especially in areas like society, culture, and history. This overlap helps in efficient preparation and reduces the overall study load.

Interesting and Diverse Content

The subject matter of anthropology is diverse and fascinating, covering everything from human evolution to the complexities of modern Indian society. This makes it engaging and less monotonous for aspirants.

How Vishnu IAS Helps You Master the Anthropology Optional Syllabus

At Vishnu IAS, we provide a structured and comprehensive approach to mastering the Anthropology optional syllabus. Here’s how we can help you:

Expert Faculty

Our experienced faculty members are well-versed in the subject and provide clear explanations of complex concepts. Their in-depth knowledge and teaching skills help students grasp the fundamentals and advanced topics effectively.

Comprehensive Study Material

We offer well-researched study material that covers all aspects of the syllabus. Our notes are concise, easy to understand, and updated with the latest developments and findings in the field of anthropology.

Regular Classes and Doubt-Clearing Sessions

Regular classes ensure a thorough understanding of each topic. Our faculty conducts doubt-clearing sessions to address any queries and ensure clarity in concepts. These sessions help in reinforcing the learning and addressing specific areas of difficulty.

Test Series and Evaluation

We conduct regular test series that mirror the UPSC exam pattern. These tests help in self-assessment and provide an opportunity to practice answer writing. Detailed feedback and evaluation help students identify their strengths and weaknesses and work on improving their performance.

Focus on Answer Writing

Answer writing is a crucial skill for scoring well in the UPSC exam. We provide specialized training in answer writing, focusing on structuring answers, presenting arguments, and using diagrams and examples effectively.

Current Affairs and Contemporary Relevance

We keep our students updated with the latest developments in the field of anthropology, both globally and in the Indian context. Understanding the contemporary relevance of anthropological concepts is crucial for the exam and for developing a well-rounded perspective.

Interactive Learning Environment

Our interactive learning environment encourages students to participate actively in discussions and ask questions. This not only enhances their understanding but also helps in retaining the information better.

Conclusion

Choosing Anthropology as your optional subject in the UPSC exam can be a strategic decision that offers a blend of scoring potential and engaging content. At Vishnu IAS, we provide expert guidance, comprehensive study materials, and a supportive learning environment to help you master the Anthropology optional syllabus. Our structured approach, combined with personalized attention, ensures that you are well-prepared to tackle this subject and excel in the exam.

Start your journey to UPSC success with Vishnu IAS. Visit Vishnu IAS to learn more about our courses and enroll in our program. With the right guidance and resources, you can confidently navigate the Anthropology optional syllabus and achieve your dream of becoming a civil servant.

[chasepipes]

Prehistoric Relics Shed Light on Climate Change

Scientists may use unconventional sources like prehistoric relics to understand climate change. These ancient artifacts, dating back thousands of years, provide valuable insights into Earth's historical climate shifts. Collaborative efforts between archaeologists and climatologists help extract information crucial for addressing contemporary climate challenges.

Prehistoric relics, including pottery shards, tools, and cave paintings, offer subtle indications of past climates. Changes in tool materials or depictions of plants and animals in ancient art can reveal shifts in temperature, precipitation, or vegetation patterns. For instance, artifacts from the last Ice Age provide a glimpse into the challenges faced by early human populations. They aid in tracing ancient community movements in response to changing climates.

Moreover, cave paintings serve as time capsules of climate information. Analyzing pigments and styles in ancient artworks helps discern details about the environment during their creation. They contribute to more accurate climate models and predictions through paleoclimatology. Moreover, prehistoric relics reveal adaptive strategies employed by ancient civilizations to cope with climate variability. This ranges from advanced water management to changes in agricultural practices.

As the world grapples with contemporary climate change, insights from prehistoric relics become increasingly pertinent. Understanding how past societies adapted or succumbed to environmental changes provides a broader perspective on the dynamics of planet Earth, emphasizing the urgency of sustainable practices.

[geographicbook]

World Population Growth

The growth of the world’s population is a phenomenon that has shaped human history from prehistoric times to the modern era. Understanding the dynamics of population growth is crucial for policymakers, economists, and sociologists alike. In this article, we will explore the journey of world population growth, spanning from the earliest human civilizations to the present day. Prehistoric…

[therealbrainlessshow]

The Yabba Dabba Do Party

The US political system is often criticized for being dominated by two major parties, the Democrats and the Republicans, that do not adequately represent the interests and needs of the diverse and dynamic American population.

Many people feel disillusioned, disenfranchised, and dissatisfied with the status quo, and yearn for a viable alternative that can challenge the established power structures and offer a fresh vision for the future.

That is why I propose the creation of a new political party, one that is devoted to the working class and inspired by the iconic cartoon characters of The Flintstones.

The Yabba Dabba Do Party.

The Yabba Dabba Do Party would be based on the following principles:

Yabba Dabba Do: This is the party’s motto, slogan, and cheer, derived from Fred Flintstone’s trademark catchphrase. It expresses the party’s enthusiasm, optimism, and determination to overcome any obstacle and achieve any goal. It also reflects the party’s sense of humor, fun, and adventure, as well as its appreciation for the simple joys of life. Like following right behind Fred on another one of his get rich quick schemes.

Working Class: Because nobody slides down the back of a dinosaur when it's quitting time better than Fred. The Yabba Dabba Do Party would represent the interests and needs of the working class, the backbone of the American economy and society. The party would advocate for fair wages, decent working conditions, affordable health care, quality education, and social security for all workers, regardless of their occupation, industry, or background. The party would also support the rights of workers to organize, bargain collectively, and strike if necessary. Included in all of those rights would be the dinosaurs that are all of the machinery and tools.

Prehistoric: The party would draw inspiration from the prehistoric era, as depicted in The Flintstones. The party would embrace the values of community, cooperation, and creativity, as well as the virtues of courage, loyalty, and honesty. The party would also promote environmental sustainability, respect for nature, and harmony with animals. The party would reject the excesses of modernity, such as consumerism, materialism, and militarism, and instead focus on the essentials of human happiness, such as family, friends, food and having words like rock, rubble, granite or stone somewhere in your name.

Flintstones: The party would model itself after the Flintstones, the beloved cartoon family that has entertained generations of Americans. Wilma and Betty would set the fashion trends. Barney's laugh would become everyone's ringtone. Fred would produce instructional videos for first time bowlers. The party would celebrate the diversity and drive of the American people, and welcome anyone who shares the party’s vision and values, regardless of their race, gender, age, orientation, fashion sense, chuckle or bowling score.

The Yabba Dabba Do Party would offer a unique and appealing alternative to the American voters, who are tired of the same old politics and the same old politicians. The party would inject some much-needed humor, energy, and innovation into the political arena, and challenge the status quo with bold ideas and actions. The party would also inspire and mobilize the American people to participate in the democratic process, use their bare feet as automobile brakes and to work together for a better future.

So, what do you say? Are you ready to join the Yabba Dabba Do Party? Then let’s make some noise and let the world know!

YABBA DABBA DOO!

[katieroselee27]

Blog #4/Jan 8.

Rome had a very historic past and spirit. The buildings are more colorful and the squares more crowded. Rome is known as the “Eternal city” which makes since due to its past and historic relevance. Rome is a melting pot of culture and traditions with a large population and heavy tourism. Rome is located in the central part of Italy knows as Lazio. The origins of Lazio date back to prehistoric times, with the growth of Rome Lazio became the the heart of the Roman Empire. Over time the area was invaded by different populations creating cultural and social changes. The architecture in Rome has a large Baroque presence with lots of exterior ornamentation.

Florence is the capital of the Tuscany region, surrounded by rolling hills filled with villas, farms and vineyards. Florence was founded as a Roman military colony. It is an

important cultural, economic, political and artistic force. There is a modern and dynamic economy based on small industrial production outside the city. While the city is largely dependent on the tourism industry. Tuscany has a large Renaissance architectural presence. While Rome also has some Renaissance architecture there is a more prominent Baroque presence in Rome. So far my personal observation has been that Florence definitely has a more Tuscan look and feeling. The crowds are somewhat less crowded in the squares. While Rome had a more colorful feel and the squares are very crowded. I have really enjoyed both cities so far and look forward to seeing the cultural similarities and differences more.

Florence on the left and Rome on the right

[random-thought-depository]

I think it's probably a mistake to think of really long-term historical and prehistoric human population growth as slow but steady growth; I suspect it was more of a punctuated equilibrium dynamic.

There are three big obvious possible limiting mechanisms to historical and prehistoric human population growth:

Predation, which controls the populations of a lot of animal species.

Food scarcity.

Birth control. Yes, even pretty primitive people would have had access to potential methods of birth control; abstinence, outercourse, and lactational amenorrhea.

Predation probably stopped being a control on human numbers pretty early, when we got smart enough to make spears and pre-emptively attack our predators, though I suppose intra-human conflict might have more-or-less replicated the demographic effects of predation in some eras (poorly recorded ones with poorly understood conditions on which you can project lots of different possibilities). That leaves food scarcity and birth control.

If food scarcity was the primary control, the stable state would be an equilibrium where malnutrition-related deaths were common enough that the death rate equaled the birth rate (this wouldn't necessarily happen by direct starvation; people might usually be weakened by chronic malnutrition and then finished off by infectious disease). Assuming high birth rates, such an equilibrium period would be a pretty miserable time to be alive; an era of chronic food insecurity, chronic malnutrition, widespread chronic extreme poverty (though a privileged minority might have things good). Then some technological advance or other development (e.g. settlement of a new area or geographic expansion of a mode of production) would increase per capita access to food and things would get better for a while. The death rate would decrease and the population would grow. As the population grew, eventually per capita access to food would decrease again, the standard of living would decline, and the death rate would increase until it matched the birth rate again, beginning a new equilibrium period. We're talking about your classic dismal "Malthusian" model of history here.

If birth control was the primary control, population growth would happen either when some cultural change undermined the system of population control by birth control (which might flip things into the control by food scarcity condition) or when some technological advance or other development (e.g. settlement of a new area) increased the carrying capacity and people chose to invest some of their new surplus in making more children for a while.

A plausible motivation for population control by birth control is recognition of the possibility of population control by food scarcity and desire to avoid it. This need not be a deliberate project of grand-scale population control; you can imagine, e.g. some farmers practicing family planning with an eye toward keeping their family small enough that that their family farm can support them, and that dynamic being replicated across a large population.

Farmer population growth would happen in periods of disequilibrium, but as you can probably extrapolate from looking at the paragraph on how population control by food scarcity would work, the average farmer in a period of disequilibrium might have had a substantially better standard of living than the average farmer in a period of equilibrium, and the average farmer in a period of equilibrium might be more typical of the farmer experience.

If hunter-gatherer and farmer populations were both primarily directly controlled by food scarcity, then probably the normal hunter-gatherer experience was pretty miserable, the first farmers were better off than the surrounding hunter-gatherers (and out-reproduced them by having a lower death rate because of better nutrition), and then farmer standard of living declined to being more-or-less as miserable as hunter-gatherers as the farmer population got big enough to start bumping up against carrying capacity of the land for farmers.

The possibility of population control by birth control makes things more complicated, as it opens up the possibility of equilibrium periods that aren't miserable (industrial humans seem plausibly headed for a birth control regulated non-miserable equilibrium period with a high standard of living).

The hypothesis that hunter-gatherer populations were more controlled by birth control while farmer populations were more controlled by food scarcity seems plausible on its face to me. If present-day and recent historical agrarian societies and the records we have of older farming societies are any indication, non-industrial farming cultures tend to have strongly pro-natalist values; "be fruitful and multiply," and all that. Hunter-gatherers tend to wean late; that might be a historical accident, but it's something I'd expect a low-tech culture that valued birth control to do.

Okay maybe this is a dumb question but given that early agriculturalists were less well nourished than hunter gathererers, what's like...the mechanism by which they outbred them. I mean, it's gotta be either higher fertility, lower infant mortality or lower pre-menopausal adult mortality, right? Like. What else could cause it. But then what causes those if not better nutrition. Is it like a consistency thing, where the HGs are better nourished most of the time, but more prone to famine? Or like... Is there some sense in which the HGs were better nourished, but not for fertility?

[ossseous]

hello!! hope you're well! just saw ur response to the "properly formed society" comment on the carrier bag theory ursula post, i felt like the way u answered was so gentle but firm and informed. was wondering if u could maybe share some recommendations for texts to read more about this? cos i agree w/ the idea but its hard to find books like that. for example i think yuval's book ultimately has this kind of idea behind it (havent read it but from what ive read OF it, thats the vibe). thank u!!

sorry the word limit probably didn't help me express that right, i meant more books about anthro that focus on exploring human nature and our beginnings with a less "man is violent. man is the best supreme species. progress greatest invention. colonialism good because progress" yadda yadda yadda kind of deal, does this make sense? thank you again. also i think im obligated now to ask u your garbage ship of the week 

I’m much more of an article person than a book person because I can only take so much dry jargon filled writing for so long, but I do have some suggestions.

The biggest one is probably Questioning Collapse. For context, Jared Diamond is a man (not an anthropologist) that shares all his theories on how past civilizations, such as the Greenland Norse, or the Rapa Nui, or the Maya, collapsed, in the terribly titled book Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed (yikes). Let's get some things straight though. Jared Diamond proved in his book Guns, Germs, and Steel, that he is a white supremacist who exploited the people of Papua New Guinea and believes that euro imperialism was just , bound to happen because europeans were more "civilized." So it was no surprise when all his favorite themes, that people, especially "uncivilized" ones, are violent and selfish, showed up in Collapse. 

Unfortunately, many of these theories have become very popular and many people assume them to be correct when they aren't. Some examples: Diamond posited that the Rapa Nui (Easter Islanders) essentially destroyed their own natural resources which lead to warfare, cannibalism, and eventually their own demise. This ignores the fact that the island was ravaged by european expeditions, which included Fuck Boy Supreme James Cook (of the botched kidnapping and eventual killing by Hawaiians fame). Of course these encounters with Europeans led to the enslaving of the Rapa Nui, as well as the introduction of diseases that had a devastating impact on the population numbers.

Anyways, Questioning Collapse, edited by McAnany and Yoffee, is a collection of essays written by different people in the scientific community to dispute the theories Jared Diamond lays out in his book Collapse.

Ancient Civilizations by Fagan and Scarre, specifically chapter 2 “theories of states”

Another one would probably be Almost Human: A Journey into the World of Baboons written by Shirley C. Strum. I cant quite remember if Strum ever addresses this because it has been a few years since I read it, but: some of the earliest "man is just naturally violent and animalistic" ideas actually come from the surveying of baboon (and other primate) behavior and comparative anthropology. However, this came early in the field of primatology when observation methods weren't pinned down. Long story short, the male baboons that were being observed weren't actually being "naturally" violent--they were agitated and scared because the people observing them were literally observing them from a big ol scary unfamiliar jeep/atv thing that they drove up right next to the baboons' band. That was decades ago, and a lot of changes have been made since to how fieldwork is done. Anyways, Strum was one of the earliest groups of people to go out and observe baboons and she continued to do it for decades. Almost Human is essentially a look at her field notes/diary during the time. I have a couple other primatology book suggestions if you are interested. Here a couple: Gorillas in the Mist or anything else by Dian Fossey. Manipulative Monkeys by Susan Perry.

The next book I recommend is Farmers, Traders, Warriors, and Kings: Female Power and Authority in Northern Igboland, 1900-1960 by Nwando Achebe. From what I remember, Achebe isn't terribly fond of the anthropology field, (which is interesting because much of the book is ethnographic), but what can I say, I personally do not like historians myself so 🤷‍♀️ (also I might be thinking of someone else)

My personal loathing of historians aside, this is a great book that explores the ways in which women... well... navigate power and authority. You get to learn all about Female Kings and how the Igbo do not fit in with eurocentric gender norms--as well as the impact that European colonization eventually has on the Igbo culture and the role women and men play within their families and society.

Some articles that discuss the effects of colonialism, structure of prehistoric societies etc etc from an anthropological perspective:

State Formation: Anthropological Perspectives by Krohn-Hansen and Nustad

Different Types of Egalitarian Societies and the Development of Inequality in Early Mesopotamia by M Frangipane

Change in the Lives of Brazilian Indigenous People: To Pluck Eyelashes (or Not?) among the Canela by William and Jean Crocker

Gender Dynamics in Hunter-Gatherer Society: Archaeological Methods and Perspectives by Brumbach and Jarvenpa

Economy, Ritual, and Power in Ubaid Mesopotamia by Gil Stein

I have a lot of these articles (and more lol) as PDFs. If you would like to read them and cannot access them, let me know, I can put them in google drive or something.

also my garbage ship right now is still beth/borgov from the queens gambit lmao

[marlsbys-dragons]

Happy Worldbuilding Wednesday! Let's talk about interconnectivity. What are some ways your worldbuilding links together? Do you have elaborate political maps with dynamic group interactions? Or delicately balanced ecosystems, where your flora and fauna have detailed relationships? Complicated mgaic rules? Elegant family trees for your gods? Draw some connections today--maybe even between things you didnt previously know were connected

Happy Worldbuilding Wednesday! Thank you for the ask @raevenlywrites, this is a good one.

There are two main ways my world is interconnected: culturally and physically.

Culturally, while there are definitely some weird cultures, most of them have some significant similarities. There is only a single family of languages, and one language in particular, Camuudn, is spoken by nearly 95% of the total population, with about 40% speaking it as a first language. Religions also tend to be rather similar, similar to how Judaism, Christianity and Islam are all separate clearly distinct religions, but compared to say Shintoism seems more similar, if that makes sense.

The large overlaps between the majority of cultures can be attributed to two factors: A.) unlike on Earth, Terrien never experienced a major prehistoric split of its human population. A smaller amount of more compact land meant that rather than becoming culturally isolated and developing very differently from each other, people stayed relatively well linked throughout all of human history.

The second reason is the number of empires that managed to arguably gain control over the totality of Terrien, each of which attempted to secure their power by promoting their own distinct culture and performed actions like forced mass migration or separation of subjugated peoples, leading to even more mixing of culture.

Those empires, in case anyone is interested, are, in order from oldest to youngest:

The Grasping Hand (Potentially mythical)

The Arrows of the Thousand Thousand Bells (Often inaccurately believed to be two separate empires reigning successively)

The Imperiate of Vette

The Tsuol Tsuol Principality (Whether the Principality was truly United is up for debate)

The Sa’amtes of Aom’Aurklansskry (Generally regarded as the greatest of the Empires, ruling over a thousand year golden age)

The Immortal Congress of Sro Kast (Overthrew the Sa’amtes, generally regarded as malicious. Universally and derisively referred to as the Mortal Congress in the modern era)

The Turuthine Empire (Under the conqueror Turuth, who ruled less than 20 years)

The Encompassings of Ffaa, Ll Toem, and the Hatsuig Brodarke (these ruled successively following the death of Turuth, their claims of legitimate succession to him, distinctiveness from both him and each other, and control of territory are all suspect)

Along with several other erroneously thought to have also enveloped the world, most notably the Hattark Empire, which is still kinda around in the modern day as the Southern Empire.

The other way my world is interconnected is physically. One of the very few nonhuman races (two known for sure, with another being potentially mythical), are the Young, called the Canalmen by everyone else.

These strange hooded figures are almost entirely solitary, and ply an enormous world spanning network of canals. These canals predate human history, and connect quite literally everything. The Canalmen are generally peaceful, and will carry any cargo any distance to any destination with any special directions you wish for a generally strange but simple price (a day of hope, the first flower you see that you don’t recognize, a story, your mother’s name, or just gold).

The canal network is ever expanding, with new canals appearing with regular frequency, often seemingly overnight, some old canals disappearing, and high traffic canals being expanded. Canalmen can cross oceans and mountains, and it is said that time flows strangely on their placid waters, allowing for unnaturally fast travel, or for things from the forgotten past to reappear.

Access to this resource is simple and easy, the prices are rarely monetary and it’s almost always possible to pay whatever they ask. The Canalmen do not wage war, though bad bad things happen to people who interfere with the canals. The canals have made the world vastly more connected, facilitating a level of trade that would be impossible in a pre-railroad Earth.

[erendur]

Yes any reconstruction of prehistorical languages sounds very speculative, and not to throw shade at linguists, but they are also not necessarily the best historians ever (understandably, you can't be a specialist of everything !), and sometimes when I hear about a certain language theory (in Ancient History in particular), it makes me laugh a bit because it's working on assumptions about populations movements/cultural history that are quite a bit dated. Plus the study of prehistory is a very dynamic field at the moment, so I think they would have a hard time catching up.

The Neanderthal thing is fascinating, I think that part of the equation is that they have a very different anatomy of the larynx etc, so if they had a language, it would have been quite different (but I might also be 10 years late in my understanding of that !). Time-machine would be very handy :)

So many questions to ask of a come-back to life Tolkien :) I don't know how much into theory of real languages he would have been, or maybe only so far at it applies to ancient languages ? There must have been quite some changes in the field of Old Norse and Old English philology since he passed away, or is this a field that doesn't change much given the lack of new material ? Did you/ do you study Old Norse and Old English ?

The concept of "not as good" at language is puzzling ! I had not thought of a bias against certain language groups, but knowing Tolkien that might well be the basis of that...I was still thinking along the lines of "Tolkien and natural name theory", and the fact that says a few times that the reason the Elves change their languages so much is partly because they like inventing new, and better names, for things, so in a universe where magic does exist, and Elves are somewhat magical (within Tolkien's definition of magic), is it because their language is better, and therefore able to affect the world around them ?

I think it also just means that Elf languages are more refined and just better in that way (more efficient maybe, but I think prettier, aesthetics playing a large part there). Probably a class thing as much as a family of languages thing, like upper-middle class English would have been considered "better" than working-class English.

I hope your are doing better :)

I found these notes of Tolkien's in Nature of Middle Earth and thought of you :

"Language we must suppose was a specifically Elvish gift, not possessed by the Valar even until they found the Quendi ; a gift of Eru inherent in their nature, so that from their Awakening they immediately began to try to communicate in speech with one another. Men had a similar gift, but less marked and less skilled, as they were less skilled in all artistic matter : language being the primary art ; hence their ruder tongues were much improved by contact, later, with Quendi". (italics are Tolkien's) (Vaguely Chomskian undertones ?)

This from a note on the chronology about the Awakening of the Elves, in which he states : "Also, which is important, time to invent the beginnings of the Primitive Quentin language."

This is how further away he imagines the "discovery of language" (as told in a legend, though) : "Imin, Tata, and Enel awoke before their spouses, and the first thing that they saw was the stars, for they woke in the early twilight before dawn. And the next thing they saw was their destined spouse lying asleep on the green sward beside them. Then they were so enamoured of their beauty that their desire for speech was immediately quickened and they began to "think of words" to speak and sing in."

This one made me think of Rousseau's (as, in the XVIIIth century Swiss philosopher) theory of the origin of language (not supported by modern linguistic theory, I bet !) : he thought that at first, humans were solitary creatures, who lived on their own, and that they just met to mate, which is how language first evolved, in the form of songs : songs to woo and seduce a mate (like birds).

I'm doing a little bit better! Thank you for checking in. And thank you so much for thinking of me!!! :DDDDDD Wait, that's so interesting-- so even the Valar did not know language before the Quendi? That makes sense-- I suppose the Music itself was its own means of communication for the Ainur. But yes, vaguely Chomskian undertones of UG-- clearly, the Elves were born either with the capacity to create language or with innate knowledge of it. I love that music still plays an important role in the creation of language in Tolkien's world, that they needed words to sing, not just speak. (For my part, I do agree that there is a universal capacity and desire for language in all humans, so in that sense, I lightly subscribe to Universal Grammar, but certain theories that get tacked onto it cause me to be a fair bit more skeptical XD). Interesting theory on the origin of language! It seems a bit off on an anthropological perspective, but it definitely does seem similar to how it emerged in Arda. I'm actually not super versed on theories regarding the origins of the first language, but I knew someone who was researching this pretty recently, and I might ask them more about it because it is very fascinating. My understanding is that it's 90% speculation XD; it may be better to explore the origin of languages from a biological, anthropological, or evolutionary psychological perspective. But I do remember music being somehow linked to porto-language, if my memory serves correctly.

[southeastasianists]

Immediately to the north-west of Australia, occupying an area somewhat larger than our island-continent, are the heartlands of the pre-modern world’s most accomplished and farthest-ranging oceanic explorers, migrant settlers and traders. Today they occupy much of Southeast Asia, while their outlying settlements stretch from Madagascar to Easter Island and Hawai’i. Active and afloat across the Asian and Indian Ocean region for millennia, their maritime mercantile ventures reached northern Australia in pre-colonial centuries.

They are the diverse but culturally and linguistically related people who are collectively called Austronesians.

Both the term ‘Austronesian’ and these people’s identity as a distinct grouping are, it’s safe to say, very little recognised by most Australians or the wider world, except among specialist historians, archaeologists, ethnographers and linguists. Author Philip Bowring wants to change that with this book that is a detailed, multidisciplinary account of these quintessential seafaring and trading societies, from their prehistoric origins until now.

In particular Bowring wants the ‘general reader and public’, at whom this book is aimed, to appreciate their dynamic role in the networks of oceanic trading that stretched from Asia across the Indian Ocean to the Mediterranean for thousands of years… networks that led directly to the last half millennium of European expansion, and that were the forerunners of today’s globalised economy.

Austronesians comprise most of the populations of modern Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, speaking hundreds of different but related languages. There are also minority Austronesian populations in Indochina, Burma, Thailand and Taiwan. Ethnic Thais, Cambodians, Laos, Vietnamese and Burmese of mainland South-East Asia are not Austronesians, nor were they primarily seafaring societies – the thing that most defines deep Austronesian heritage.

So to avoid confusion Bowring has coined a new term, Nusantaria, to describe Austronesian homelands on the islands and coasts of South-East Asia, from where they sailed and traded much more widely. The term comes from the Sanskrit-derived, Malay-Indonesian nusantara (‘the islands between’), referring to the archipelagos that stretch from China and South-East Asia towards Australasia. (In English this was sometimes ‘the Malay archipelago’, the title of Alfred Russell Wallace’s magnificent magnum opus published precisely 150 years ago.)

The Nusantaria concept keeps the focus on this vital maritime mercantile heartland, whereas some of the Austronesian family sailed so far away – to Micronesia, Polynesia and Madagascar – that they eventually lost contact with the ancestral sail-trading network.

The major defining feature of Nusantarian societies was their mastery of navigation with ingenious vessel technologies, which included outriggers, unique fore-and-aft sailing rigs and hull-construction techniques that distinguished them from the Arab, Persian, Indian, Chinese and (much later) European ships that also plied these seas. This was the key to their expansion and settlement of maritime Southeast Asia over the last four or five millennia, displacing or absorbing earlier migrants. Other original features of Nusantarian societies included ancestral cults and shamanism, headhunting, and the independence and high standing of their women.

Bowring takes an even-handed approach to the fascinating question of Nusantarian origins. He acknowledges the well-accepted ‘out of China via Taiwan’, north-to-south thesis of Peter Bellwood et.al., but seemingly gives equal credence to alternative, south-to-north theories of migrations that were forced by the last inter-glacial flooding of the Sundaland basin (Stephen Oppenheimer, William Sondheim).

From ancient times the islands of Nusantaria supplied key trade commodities including the rarest and most costly spices – cloves, nutmeg and mace – exported in its own ocean-going ships. But more crucially, these home waters were the cross-roads of all the extensive sea trade between East Asia and the Indian Ocean.

Controlling these sea lanes led to the rise of diverse Nusantarian trading centres and entrepôts, kingdoms and empires in Sumatra, Java, Malaya and elsewhere in their region. Bowring vividly depicts a cosmopolitan trading world exchanging ceramics, metals, gems, silks and other textiles, spices, forest products, slaves – the vast majority shipped by sea.

‘A Persian writing in Arabic in the tenth century,’ he tells us, ‘noted that parrots in Palembang [the Sumatran centre of the Srivijaya empire] could speak many languages including Arabic, Persian and Greek.’ Those polylingual parrots would certainly also have spoken Malay, the Austronesian language native to both shores of the Straits of Malacca – the narrow funnel through which most of this trade passed. It became the lingua-franca of the region’s sailors and traders well over a thousand years ago, and is the basis of the modern Indonesian national language.

The major religions of Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam entered the region from the Indian Ocean, spread peaceably by maritime trade and adopted through influence and prestige. Nusantarian societies transformed these religions, as much as they transformed Nusantaria. Rare seaborne invasions such as that of the Tamil-Indian Cholas in 1025, and later Mongol and Ming interventions, made no lasting impacts due to the dispersal of the islands and the skills of its sailors and traders.

European and Christian incursions began more forcibly five centuries ago, lured by the fabulous wealth of the ‘Spice Islands’ and advantaged by the superior gunnery of these aggressive newcomers. The shock is well expressed in the famous words of 17th-century Makassan Sultan Alauddin, refusing monopolist Dutch demands to exclude their rivals: ‘God made the land and the sea. The land he divided among men and the sea he gave in common. It has never been heard that anyone should be forbidden to sail the seas.’

This new era would lead eventually to a severe downturn of Nusantarian fortunes and a loss of common identity as they were fragmented into the post-colonial states we know today. Bowring makes the valuable point, however, that it’s easy to exaggerate the effect of the first few centuries of European activity, as disruptive as it was. It was not until ‘a final land-grabbing spasm around the turn of the 20th century that European imperialism reached its final apogee’, drawing Nusantaria’s modern borders.

Journalist, author and yachtsman Philip Bowring has lived in Asia for decades as a correspondent for leading financial and international newspapers, and was editor of the prestigious Far Eastern Economic Review. His earlier history book was about a distant ancestor, Sir John Bowring, who as Plenipotentiary in China in 1856 precipitated the Second Opium War, and who negotiated a key trade treaty between Britain and King Mongkut of Anna and the King of Siam fame.

Having read history at Cambridge and, during his working life, absorbed himself in the history and economy of maritime Asia, Philip Bowring is well placed to attempt this ambitious synthesis of vast amounts of scholarship and primary sources for a non-specialist readership. Its magnitude is attested by a nine-page bibliography. Given the breadth and depth of material consulted, errors (in this reviewer’s fields, at least) were few and minor.

At times the work suffers from the formidable weight of historical detail that it encompasses. There are occasions where condensing complex events and multiple players creates sentences that are rather too opaque, unless you’re already well-versed in that history. Places, people or processes can sometimes flash by, for the first and last time, unexplained.

This is less criticism than acknowledgement of the dilemma of treating an intricate subject encompassing so very many cultures, eras and episodes in a single volume – as best I know, for the first time. You could push the book out by an extra hundred or two pages – but then, good luck finding a publisher. Or do you simplify the story by sacrificing some of the richness and texture of complex events and processes? Any reader finding themselves a bit lost in the detail might return to the contents list, which has been well constructed with snappy chapter titles and a clever 30-word synopsis for each. This can usefully be returned to as a summary or a road map.

The attractive illustrations in both colour and mono have been very well selected for variety and quality, with many outstanding works of art, artefacts or historical sources. It might have been helpful to reference them more in the text, however, to make their relevance clearer to readers unfamiliar with the subject.

This hardcover book is handsomely produced with a beautiful dust jacket showing fine Nusantarian galleys in the Moluccas, recorded during the Louis de Freycinet expedition of 1817–20. It’s a volume that offers readers a deeper understanding of the vibrant maritime peoples and events that unfolded literally on Australia’s tropical northern doorstep, to better appreciate the complex development of the human, political and economic region that we inhabit.