ANTH 100A Lecture Notes - Lecture 46: Social Stratification, Colin Renfrew, Baron Renfrew Of Kaimsthorn, Urban Revolution
Document Summary
Based on ranking where lineages are socially ranked. Associated with permanent virtual centers and see the beginnings of dominance of one center over others. Also begin to see craft specialization (early) states. A single ruler has authority to establish laws. Social stratification no longer only kinship based but rather class based. Settlement patterns based on the dominance of a central place. Origins of complexity: models: the urban revolution (v. gordon childe, irrigation (wittfogel, population pressure, bloodwealth (hayden, warfare (carniero) Marked by the emergence of metallurgy, full-time artisans, and cities. Artisans were supported by surpluses obtained through the use of intensive agriculture. An elite emerged to organize and control system. Taxation and tribute lead to the acquisition of wealth. Julian steward (1955) and karl wittfogel (1957) Irrigation (canals) allowed for larger crop surpluses to be grown. Irrigation was also behind the stratification of societies. A elite (hydraulic bureaucracy) emerged to control larger scale water diversion projects and the people building/using them.
