The Creation of Inequality: How Our Prehistoric Ancestors Set the Stage for Monarchy, Slavery, and Empire
The origin of inequality is one of the most basic questions about human societies. We all arose from egalitarian hunter/gatherer ancestors. Why, then, do almost all of us poor peasants now tolerate affluent leaders, whether they are democratically elected presidents or military dictators? In this clear, readable survey, the distinguished archaeologistsKent FlanneryandJoyce Marcusextract the answers by comparing the histories of societies over the whole world for the last 10,000 years. This book will become the standard account of long-term political evolution. (Jared Diamond, Professor of Geography at UCLA and Pulitzer Prize–winning author ofGuns, Germs, and SteelandCollapse)By carefully articulating and integrating archaeological and ethnographic data, Flannery and Marcus present a panoramic view of the development of particular cultures in various parts of the world. Moreover, in selecting case studies the authors have gone beyond the familiar examples so often cited in anthropology textbooks.The Creation of Inequalitypromises to be a landmark work. (Robert L. Carneiro, Ph.D., Curator Emeritus and Professor Emeritus, Anthropology, Richard Gilder Graduate School at the American Museum of Natural History)Flannery and Marcus are two of the most distinguished anthropological archaeologists in the world.The Creation of Inequalitydistills two lifetimes of work on the origin and evolution of complex societies throughout the ancient world. This work brings much of this together in an eminently readable and fascinating way. (Charles S. Stanish, Ph.D., Director, Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, and Professor, Department of Anthropology, University of California, Los Angeles)This provocative work, likely to become an important contribution to the literature of social and political anthropology, will be of interest both to scholars in the field and to anthropology and archaeology enthusiasts seeking understanding of the development and perpetuation of inequality in human societies. (Elizabeth SaltLibrary Journal2012-06-01)Extraordinarily erudite...It would be an excellent addition to collections on the rise of civilization or on how to use the data gathered by cultural anthropologists and archaeologists to understand broad patterns of social change. Professionals in the field will also benefit from this tour de force by two of archaeology's most provocative scholars. (L. L. JohnsonChoice2012-11-01)Kent FlanneryandJoyce Marcushave done a remarkable job in synthesizing the two key disciplines of social anthropology and archaeology, and their book represents a significant advance in our understanding of the evolution of complex societies. (Peter TurchinTimes Literary Supplement2013-03-08)This is a work of profound importance...[It] yields insights into a multitude of societiesin the recent and prehistoric past...FlanneryandMarcus's magnum opus...[This] is a deeply impressive achievement.(Steven MithenLondon Review of Books2013-04-11)