[This article is a continuation of How Anarchic Market Forces (And Not the State) Created Civilization]
The epoch following the Neolithic Revolution in 10,000 B.C. was characterized by unprecedented growth in human population, culture, technology, and trade unrivaled in all of human history. The natural emergence of ideas and technology through entrepreneurial innovation and market processes over many years of natural selection led to the creation of the necessities of advanced civilization–agriculture, husbandry, pottery, medicine, metallurgy, trade, law, and money. States, as we consider them today, were conspicuously nonexistent.[1]
While some social stratification based on ability, function, or gender existed, on the whole, Neolithic societies were much more egalitarian than those found today. Most societies were centered around the family and the village, with some even looking down on excessive accumulation of wealth. Likely, there were wise elders or elites that emerged in each village based on reputation and respect, who adjudicated any possible disputes between community members; but they were not held to be a separate, superior class. The marvels of archaeological sites like Çatalhöyük, Abu Hureya, and Ain Ghazal in Ancient Mesopotamia are testaments to the success of voluntary relations and market exchanges. Based on the evidence found within these sites, it is accurate to say that human civilization predates the State by 4,000 years.
Some of the earliest States to be established were Arslantepe and Uruk, in the form of powerful cities dominating a surrounding hinterland. The “great” empires of old, Egypt, Babylon, and Assyria would model themselves on these Sumerian structures. Contrary to whatever fashionable methods are proposed today, a State can only arise through a very specific three-step process: through conquest, establishment of institutions, and ex post facto justification.
Understanding Economics Series
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Common sense economic lessons for the interested layman. How a free market economy works, from an Austrian School perspective.
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Lesson Zero: Thinking Like a (Good) Economist.
Learn how to sort through some of the largest fallacies in economics, and apply good economic thinking to your daily life. All of this comes with mastery of a single fallacy that is the root of all economic error. Also, a brief note on ethics in economics. Continue reading »
A brief overview of what “anarchocapitalism” means. Here’s a link to a more lengthy discussion of anarchism (in the anarchocapitalist mindset): http://ryansafner.com/essays/all-about-anarchism/ A brief overview of what “anarchocapitalism” means.
[My apologies for posting this very late. I had actually made and uploaded these videos to Youtube on January 2nd!
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Law, order, stability, trade, property-rights, writing, pottery, agriculture, these are all elements that we strongly associate with “civilization.” The mainstream paradigm that we are all taught in history is that the great ancient civilizations flourished because their leaders were “wise” and “virtuous” governors of their people. The great empires of old had constructed such wondrous public works, transportation systems, and law codes under the sage-like guidance of the imperial State.
But new empirical evidence, backed by libertarian economic theory shatters this paradigm. In fact, each and every one of these facets of civilization were developed naturally, through anarchic forces long before States. In fact, human civilization pre-dates the State by over 4,000 years. Let us investigate the fascinating truths uncovered about the Neolithic Revolution.[1]
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