3 ms·
It suggests corn cultivation was a sort of positive shock to the society's population level (as opposed to the more common negative shock of invasion, plague, e
by rossdavidh 6y ago
It suggests corn cultivation was a sort of positive shock to the society's population level (as opposed to the more common negative shock of invasion, plague, etc). I wonder how many examples we have in (pre)history of relatively abrupt positive shocks to a human population? Aside from the Baby Boom, of course.
- Tagbert 6y agoMost recently, look at the green revolution in agriculture. Historically, it is likely that each case where various crops were domesticated had a similar effect. In between, you had the invention of the harness that let draft animals pull a bigger load (and to plow). there was also the invention of the metal plow in the 18th century.
- scottlocklin 6y ago> I wonder how many examples we have in (pre)history of relatively abrupt positive shocks to a human population? Aside from the Baby Boom, of course. You're joking right? TLDR: shitloads. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estimates_of_historical_world_population https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estimates_of_historical_world_...
- rossdavidh 6y agoNo, honestly wondering. Most positive changes, significant enough to increase population carrying capacity, happen gradually. Shocks are more often negative (at least in the near term).
- pvg 6y agoThese changes are not always positive in seemingly counter-intuitive ways. For instance, it's now thought the 'early adopters' of agriculture and settled living became less healthy than their hunter-gatherer cousins.