How on earth is sanitation left out of these discussions? Ritual burning? Really? Maybe, but probably more a reaction to bed bugs, or whatever the plague of the year is hitting....be it bugs, mice spreading disease, etc.
Invasion causing cities to be abandoned? Probably occasionally, but disease seems more likely in absence of evidence of violence.
And why keep building in the same place? Because they don’t flood, and the higher you build your cities, the less likely they are to flood. And you also get a nice refuge from the floods while enjoying nearby fertile ground.
That these items are never brought up in such discussions strikes me as crazy odd.
I knew nothing about these cultures. I find it fascinating that you can have this level of urban history without significant social stratification. Thanks for this account.
What about the idea of building those megacities but only having a percentage of the house inhabited to scare off steppe raiders? Falsifying your numbers so to speak?
My takeaway from this is that mankind cannot exist in any age without accenting his junk. Sorry if that wasn't intended but that's the way the cookie...sheaths.
How on earth is sanitation left out of these discussions? Ritual burning? Really? Maybe, but probably more a reaction to bed bugs, or whatever the plague of the year is hitting....be it bugs, mice spreading disease, etc.
Invasion causing cities to be abandoned? Probably occasionally, but disease seems more likely in absence of evidence of violence.
And why keep building in the same place? Because they don’t flood, and the higher you build your cities, the less likely they are to flood. And you also get a nice refuge from the floods while enjoying nearby fertile ground.
That these items are never brought up in such discussions strikes me as crazy odd.
I knew nothing about these cultures. I find it fascinating that you can have this level of urban history without significant social stratification. Thanks for this account.
Is there a bibliography for this episode?
The feminine figurines especially the one with four holes at top could’ve been a stringed instrument.
Any books or places to get more info on all this? Very interesting, would love to dive deeper.
PBS had a NOVA episode called "The Horse Warriors" that has some interesting information about this period
What about the idea of building those megacities but only having a percentage of the house inhabited to scare off steppe raiders? Falsifying your numbers so to speak?
My takeaway from this is that mankind cannot exist in any age without accenting his junk. Sorry if that wasn't intended but that's the way the cookie...sheaths.