“How did it come to be that Homo sapiens, so recently in the history of his species, ended up living in populous settled communities, filled with domesticated animals and a plethora of cereal crops, governed by the ancestors of what we call today the state?”

In this book, James C. Scott examines the emergence of the first permanent settlements in human history and their connection to the Agricultural Revolution of the Neolithic period, in order to identify and analyze the origins of the state.

Drawing from a wide range of scientific fields, such as archaeology, ancient history, anthropology, biology, epidemiology, demography, and environmental history, the author critiques the institution of the state, highlighting the adverse consequences of the transition from nomadic life, hunting, and gathering to permanent settlement and agricultural labor: epidemics due to crowding, forced labor, and control over production and reproduction, among others.

Based on these findings, Scott turns his attention to the “barbarians,” that is, those populations that managed to avoid settled life and resist state control for millennia, choosing alternative ways of life and organization.

Author: JAMES C. SCOTT

Language: ENGLISH

Pages: 344

Dimensions: 210X140X0

Year of publication: 2025