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How the Neolithic Revolution Has Unfolded: Invention and Adoption or Change and Adaptation? Addressing the Diffusion Controversy about Initial Domestication

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  • Serge Svizzero

    (CEMOI - Centre d'Économie et de Management de l'Océan Indien - UR - Université de La Réunion)

Abstract

It is widely agreed that initial domestication of plants and animals can be considered as the major innovation underlying the Neolithic revolution. There is however a controversy about how it has unfolded. One view supports it was an invention with subsequent adoption, and stresses the role of human intention in a rapid transition, geographically focused. The other view contends it was change and subsequent adaptation, and highlights the role of chance and co-evolution in a protracted and spatially diffused process. Thanks to recent developments of archaeobotany and archaeozoology, we evaluate both views and conclude that the latter is more relevant.

Suggested Citation

  • Serge Svizzero, 2017. "How the Neolithic Revolution Has Unfolded: Invention and Adoption or Change and Adaptation? Addressing the Diffusion Controversy about Initial Domestication," Working Papers hal-02145476, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:wpaper:hal-02145476
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://hal.univ-reunion.fr/hal-02145476
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Benoît Godin, 2014. "Invention, diffusion and linear models of innovation: the contribution of anthropology to a conceptual framework," Journal of Innovation Economics, De Boeck Université, vol. 0(3), pages 11-37.
    2. Serge Svizzero, 2016. "Population Pressure and the Transition to Agriculture Population Pressure and the Transition to Agriculture," Post-Print hal-02146472, HAL.
    3. Michael D. Purugganan & Dorian Q. Fuller, 2009. "The nature of selection during plant domestication," Nature, Nature, vol. 457(7231), pages 843-848, February.
    4. Jacob L. Weisdorf, 2005. "From Foraging To Farming: Explaining The Neolithic Revolution," Journal of Economic Surveys, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 19(4), pages 561-586, September.
    5. Douglass C. North & Robert Paul Thomas, 1977. "The First Economic Revolution," Economic History Review, Economic History Society, vol. 30(2), pages 229-241, May.
    6. Graeme Barker, 2011. "The cost of cultivation," Nature, Nature, vol. 473(7346), pages 163-164, May.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    Keywords

    domestication; origins of agriculture; Neolithic revolution; innovation; diffusion controversy;
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