Human evolution and the origins of hierarchies
Subtitle: the state of nature
By: Benoît Dubreuil
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Published: 2010
Place of publication: Cambridge; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 271
ISBN-13: 9780521769488
Subjects: Hierarchies; Human evolution
Description: "In this book, Benoît Dubreuil explores the creation and destruction of hierarchies in human evolution. Combining the methods of archeology, anthropology, cognitive neuroscience, and primatology, he offers a natural history of hierarchies from the point of view of both cultural and biological evolution. This volume explains why dominance hierarchies typical of primate societies disappeared in the human lineage and why the emergence of large-scale societies during the Neolithic implied increased social differentiation, the creation of status hierarchies, and, eventually, political centralization"--Provided by publisher.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references and index.
Table of contents: title: Machine generated contents note: Introduction; 1. A passion for equality?; 2. Reversing dominance hierarchies; 3. Homo sapiens in perspective; 4. Hierarchy without the state; 5. The origins of the state; Conclusion.