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Home > Reflecting History > Episode 73: Against the Grain Part I-The Civilizational Narrative


	Podcast:		Reflecting History
	Episode:		Episode 73: Against the Grain Part I-The Civilizational Narrative
	Category:		Society & Culture
	Duration:		00:31:56
	Publish Date:		2020-04-13 23:30:00
	Description:		In some ways, common historical narratives form the backbone of our study of history. There are certain historical stories that are as old as history itself, and are thus taken for granted by the historical layman. One of the most common historical narratives is a narrative of progress: human beings lived as hunters and gatherers, until eventually learning how to farm-the development of agriculture led to permanent settlements, specialization of labor, domestication of plants and animals, a need for states, and finally the "civilization" that we all know and love. But how do we know this narrative is true? What if it turned out there are some serious holes in the idea of the civilizational narrative? What if the causality is reversed? Perhaps it wasn't humans domesticating plants which led to civilization, but rather civilization, states, and environmental changes which domesticated humans. This is part one in a four part series on James C. Scott's recent book "Against the Grain." The book provides a new and contrarian perspective on the origins of humanity, what the earliest states were really up to, and how the environment and "civilization" around us has fundamentally changed us as human beings. Support the podcast: https://www.patreon.com/reflectinghistory Reflecting History on Twitter: @reflectinghist If you like the podcast and have 30 seconds to spare, consider leaving a review on iTunes/Apple Podcasts...It helps! Try my audio course: Why do 'good' people support evil leaders? What allure does Fascism hold that enables it to garner popular support? And what lessons can history teach us about today? My audio course 'A Beginners Guide to Understanding & Resisting Fascism: Nazi Germany and the Battle for the Human Heart' explores these massive questions through the lens of Nazi Germany and the ordinary people who lived, loved, collaborated and even resisted during those times. Through exploring the past, I hope to unlock lessons that all learners on the course can apply to the present day - from why fascism attracts people to how it can be resisted. I'm donating 20% of the proceeds to Givewell's Maximum Impact Fund, and the course also comes with a 100% money back guarantee. Check it out at https://avid.fm/reflectinghistory
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