| AGRARIAN STATES FIVE CHARACTERISTICS 1. Nobility � Peasantry -- exploitation by military force (rent, taxes, tribute). 2. Most production for use, not exchange -- surpluses relatively small. Merchants rich, but low status, outcasts (like organized crime bosses today). 3. Little organized class conflict or resistance by peasants. Conflict of interests ? sporadic class conflict (e.g., �robin hood� legends). 4. Held together by military force -- not religion or tradition. 5. Very slow social change -- but led to big leap -- capitalism. Why such slow change?? During and after neolithic revolutions change rapid and accelerating. HG - P&H - AG - STATE & CIV over a few thousand years. Then more than 4000 years until next major change (capitalism). Why? 1. No incentives for either nobility or peasants to improve. peasants - gains taken away nobility - easier to expand (conquest). 2. Instability of rule by nobility -- fighting over surplus taken from peasants. How did capitalism ever emerge under these circumstances?? Long-term, gradual �behind back� changes. Population growth Growth in size and power of states/empires Technological growth (economic and military) Expansion of trade (geographic and scale) During 4,500 years (3000 bc to 1500 ad) Growth and collapse of empires not just Rome, all over world. Urban elites vs. Rural peasants extraction of surplus. Easier to conquer than control diminishing marginal returns. With expansion of trade From water to land transport (slower, less efficient). Much larger military to support (parasitic population). Local elites competing for piece of pie. Unconquered �barbarians� nibbling at edges of empire. Internal conflict among elites. Changes + circumstances of 3 classes Nobility -- Parasite class living off surplus of peasants taken by force, traditional urban-based aristocracy. Peasants -- Traditional, rural, agriculture life unchanging over centuries, generation after generation. Merchants -- Outcasts, but growing richer, more organized, technologically advanced, etc. |