Rise of the first empires

What is it about?

This is a review essay that considers the argument made in a new book by the Yale political scientist James Scott. The latter argued that the 'domestication' of cereals was related to and imposed by the first states and empires known to world history. He connects these to the control of wetlands and subjugation of peoples. The article acknowledges the importance of the book but supplements it in two ways: first by considering alternative cases such as the Harappan civilization and second by emphasizing the place of ideologies -- especially religion -- in the rise of states.

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Why is it important?

Takes an integrated and comparative view of the rise and fall of empires in world history