I suspect that developing a highly nutritious crop that is easy to grow in large quantities is a prerequisite for technological civilization. However, I wonder if something other than grains might have sufficed (e.g. potatoes).
One of the points made in the video is that it’s much easier to conquer and rule people who grow grains than people who grow root crops. Grains have to be harvested in a timely fashion—the granaries can be looted, the fields can be burnt. If your soldiers have to dig up the potatoes, it just isn’t worth it.
I suspect that developing a highly nutritious crop that is easy to grow in large quantities is a prerequisite for technological civilization. However, I wonder if something other than grains might have sufficed (e.g. potatoes).
One of the points made in the video is that it’s much easier to conquer and rule people who grow grains than people who grow root crops. Grains have to be harvested in a timely fashion—the granaries can be looted, the fields can be burnt. If your soldiers have to dig up the potatoes, it just isn’t worth it.
Yes, it’s easier to loot people who grow grains than roots, but I don’t think that’s so relevant to taxation by a stationary bandit.
Hmm, abundant and easily accessible food is also a requisite for the evolution of eusocial animal colonies. I guess that’s what cities ultimately are.