1. Big Human History: Synthesizing Evolutionary Ideas From the Social Sciences Thomas Burr Illinois State University International Big History Association Conference Amsterdam, The Netherlands 16 July 2016

2. Big Human History, IBHA 20162 I.Teaching social evolution in sociology A.My background: International Relations, History, Sociology – a lot on world history/globalization, plus comparison B.Dissertation: comparative economic history: bicycles! C.Taught “Global Social Change: An Introduction to Macrosociology” 1997-8 (T.A.), 2003 (2x), 2009-2015

3. Big Human History, IBHA 20163 I.Teaching social evolution in sociology D.“Societies” – what they are, how they operate/change E.Approach: social evolution (ecological): Lenski F.Frustrating! quasi-historical; types over cultural diversity; purely comparative/not global G.Always adding new readings – why?

4. Big Human History, IBHA 20164 I.Teaching social evolution in sociology H.Arguments: 1.Understanding social evolution requires all social sciences 2.Requires addressing human “nature” (also teach culture) 3.Approach: institutional political economy, applied at… 4.Multiple levels of analysis (global-comparative) I.Big History: for social sciences, ~100K y.a. is big – still, relevant today

5. Big Human History, IBHA 20165 II.Additions, improvements (?) in teaching A.Social evolution (anthro): political (groups) (J&E, Service) B.Soc/anthro/history: kinship/gender C.World prehistory: stops with world history D.World history, especially after ~1000 CE E.Sociology: world-system, world society, demographics

6. Big Human History, IBHA 20166 II.Additions, improvements (?) F.International relations: state system, hegemony, int’l orgs G.Economics: growth (extensive and intensive) H.Psychology: cognition, emotion, motivation (“nature”) I.Environmental issues: Holocene, pollution, resource use

7. Big Human History, IBHA 20167 III.Book A.Evolution of the book 1.Wrote up readings as supplement to Nolan & Lenski 2.Draft book: Societies Past and Present (Springer) 3.Synthesis: no original data 4.Revisions: sabbatical this fall (including Soc. Ev. & Hist.)

8. Big Human History, IBHA 20168 III.Book B.Chapters (transformations) 1.Introduction 2.Studying humans 3.Paleolithic foraging bands 4.Neolithic, tribes 5.Chiefdoms 6.States, empires, civilizations 7.Global industrialization 8.Developed societies 9.Global society 10.Developing societies 11.Conclusion

9. Big Human History, IBHA 20169 III.Book C.Comparative framework: social “aspects”/institutional areas 1.Economy: production, distribution, consumption 2.Politics: leaders, size/complexity, power/resources, organization 3.Inequality: economic, gender, race (later) 4.Ideas: arts, ideologies, technologies 5.Demographics: mortality/fertility, migration, urbanization 6.Gender/kinship: marriage, residence, lineality 7.Environment: resource degradation, pollution

10. Big Human History, IBHA 201610 III.Book D.Framework applied every chapter 1.Global: increasingly important in later chapters 2.Comparative: types and transformations between them 3.Institutions (hot topic): variation within types (examples)

11. Big Human History, IBHA 201611 IV.Payoff: findings, interpretations A.Human nature: tension between two models – tension in world! 1.Inside mind: central executive v. shared concepts, scripts 2.Individuals: rational, selfish actor v. group loyalty, cohesion 3.Society: structure v. agency debate 4.Macrosociology: the “micro-macro” problem

12. Big Human History, IBHA 201612 IV.Payoff: findings, interpretations B.Pre-industrial demographics 1.“Lifespan”: students don’t get it 2.35-50% mortality by age 20: they get it 3.Fertility: 4+/♀, increasing over millennia

13. Big Human History, IBHA 201613 IV.Payoff: findings, interpretations D.Social evolution: definition of “society” changes (↑ abstraction) 1.Foraging bands: very kin-oriented, but not cohesive (fluid) 2.As societies grow, non-kin: how? More cohesive E.Smaller and larger societies co-exist; smaller ones’ total territory shrinks over time – why? Mostly conquest? Assimilation?

14. Big Human History, IBHA 201614 IV.Payoff: findings, interpretations F.Inter-societal relations 1.Within world-systems (trade, other flows) 2.Within state systems (China’s Warring States, medieval India, early modern Europe => today)

15. Big Human History, IBHA 201615 IV.Payoff: findings, interpretations G.Demographic transition: mortality/fertility – very similar nationally

16. Big Human History, IBHA 201616 IV.Payoff: findings, interpretations H.Economic growth 1.Subsistence production => industrial capitalism 2.Inequality predates capitalism (socialists seem not to know) 3.Capitalism solves absolute poverty, exacerbates relative poverty

17. Big Human History, IBHA 201617 IV.Payoff: findings, interpretations I.Development: smaller societies incorporated into larger ones 1.Huge transaction costs/loyalty problems 2.Subsistence production => industrial capitalism – how?

18. Big Human History, IBHA 201618 IV.Payoff: findings, interpretations J.Gender: falling fertility + changing employment = disruption K.Environmental implications: “Anthropocene” era? Economic and demographic growth? L.The future: zombie apocalypse? nuclear war? environmental collapse? Antibiotics failure? Or actually solve our problems?

19. Big Human History, IBHA 201619 V.Criticisms A.Comparative framework is extremely artificial B.Lacks good visuals (just like this presentation…) C.Topical complexity v. reading clarity – accomplish it?

20. Big Human History, IBHA 201620 Thank you. Questions?