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The Dawn Of Everything by David Graeber, David Wengrow
Contributed by: Salmon
  • 1. The Dawn of Everything: A New History of Humanity, co-authored by anthropologist David Graeber and archaeologist David Wengrow, offers a transformative perspective on the origins of human societies and the development of social hierarchies. Challenging conventional narratives that depict the evolution of civilization as an inevitable march from primitive tribes to modern states, Graeber and Wengrow present a rich tapestry of archaeological evidence and ethnographic studies that suggest a more complex and diverse history. They explore various societies across different periods and regions, illustrating how people have organized themselves in myriad ways, often opting for egalitarian structures instead of rigid hierarchies. By examining ancient cultures and rethinking the implications of freedom, inequality, and governance, the authors invite readers to reconsider the assumptions about what it means to be human and to live in a society, ultimately proposing that the dawn of agricultural and urban living did not necessarily coincide with the dawn of inequality and oppression. Instead, they highlight the potential for diverse social orders and the role of human creativity and collaboration in shaping history, challenging us to reimagine what future societies might look like if we learn from the past.

    According to Graeber and Wengrow, what is the primary flaw in the standard narrative of human social evolution?
A) It overemphasizes the role of agriculture.
B) It ignores the contributions of European thinkers.
C) It assumes a linear progression from simple to complex societies.
D) It is based solely on archaeological evidence.
  • 2. The book's title, 'The Dawn of Everything,' suggests that early human societies were characterized by:
A) A simple, hunter-gatherer existence only.
B) A wide experimentation with social forms.
C) A slow but steady march toward civilization.
D) A universal state of warfare and inequality.
  • 3. The archaeological site of Çatalhöyük is used by the authors to argue what about early urban settlements?
A) They were the origin point for monotheistic religion.
B) They could exist without strong centralized authority or clear social hierarchy.
C) They were entirely dependent on slave labor.
D) They were the first to develop written language.
  • 4. According to the book, what is a major reason for the popular acceptance of the 'myth of the stupid savage'?
A) A lack of archaeological evidence before the 20th century.
B) To justify colonialism and the imposition of European political structures.
C) Because early humans left no artistic remains.
D) It is a factual account based on genetic studies.
  • 5. The authors challenge the idea that the adoption of agriculture inevitably led to:
A) The development of tools.
B) Cooperation between groups.
C) The use of fire.
D) Social inequality and private property.
  • 6. What do Graeber and Wengrow propose about the origins of social inequality?
A) It is a biological imperative in human nature.
B) It was a conscious choice, not an inevitable consequence of 'progress'.
C) It began with the Industrial Revolution.
D) It was caused by a single genetic mutation.
  • 7. The book discusses the 'indigenous critique' primarily from peoples of which region?
A) The Australian Outback.
B) Sub-Saharan Africa.
C) North America (e.g., Wendat, Lakota).
D) Southeast Asia.
  • 8. What is the 'schismogenesis' discussed in the book?
A) The genetic divergence of human populations.
B) The process by which societies define themselves in opposition to others.
C) The origin of religious schisms in early cities.
D) The splitting of a single tribe into two due to overpopulation.
  • 9. What is the significance of the 'play principle' in the authors' analysis?
A) It explains why early societies had no rules or laws.
B) It is the reason why agriculture was invented.
C) It proves that early humans were not serious about survival.
D) It suggests that early humans consciously experimented with social structures.
  • 10. According to the book, what role did 'secret societies' play in some indigenous North American groups?
A) They could create a counter-power to check the authority of chiefs.
B) They held a monopoly on violent force.
C) They were the primary governing bodies of the state.
D) They were responsible for all agricultural planning.
  • 11. What is the ultimate implication of 'The Dawn of Everything' for our present and future?
A) Technological progress will inevitably solve social problems.
B) If inequality was created by specific choices, we can choose to create different, more equitable societies.
C) We are doomed to repeat the cycles of collapse seen in ancient history.
D) We must return to a hunter-gatherer lifestyle to be free.
  • 12. How do the authors interpret evidence from ancient Ukraine?
A) As showing large, egalitarian settlements
B) As evidence of human sacrifice
C) As proof of early slavery
D) As demonstrating royal burials
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