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In other words, the use of standard measures that were portable and external to a society's local norms tracked closely the diffusion of settled agricultural ci
by contingencies 5y ago
In other words, the use of standard measures that were portable and external to a society's local norms tracked closely the diffusion of settled agricultural civilisations and specialist societies. This is unsurprising.
- Ar-Curunir 5y agoYou don’t have to be so dismissive. The research suggests that there was a common standard of weights from the near East to the Aegean, which is indeed surprising; there is no reason to believe that, in the absence of a centralizing force, the weights should standardize.
- teruakohatu 5y ago> there is no reason to believe that, in the absence of a centralizing force, the weights should standardize. In the absence of trade there would be no reason for them to stabilise, but with trade there is every incentive for them to do so even over long distances and between people groups who don't know of each others existence.
- insert_coin 5y ago> there is no reason to believe that, in the absence of a centralizing force, the weights should standardize. That force is commerce, and it has almost never been absent in human history.
- contingencies 5y agoWe already knew about ancient trade across the region, specifically due to analytical metallurgy. Bronzes in particular. Tin content thereof in particular. Often sourced from Afghanistan/England IIRC and evidence also early.