The cultural accomplishments of non-hierarchical societies
 

Graeber / Wengrow 433: "in all parts of the world small communities formed civilizations in [the] true sense of extended moral communities. Without permanent kings, bureaucrats, or standing armies they fostered the growth of mathematical and calendrical knowledge. In some regions they pioneered metallurgy, leavened bread and wheat beer; in others they domesticated maize and learned to extract poisons, medicines, and mind-altering substances from plants. Civilizations, in this true sense, developed the major textile technologies applied to fabrics and basketry, the potter's wheel, stone industries and beadwork, the sail and maritime navigation, and so on."

> from David Graeber and David Wengrow's Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity (2021)

> tagged with #math, #technology, #food, #textiles, #prehistory, #culture, #knowledge, #community

> created May 14, 2026 at 2:32:58 PM


> part of unfinished everything


search unfinished everything


unfinished everything is an original work / ongoing project (1997-present) by jeremy p. bushnell

selection, arrangement, and original text available for creative reuse under this licensing arrangement

authors' quoted words are their own.


home |@jpb.bsky.social