MINDLESS MUSINGS

The surviving nomadic/ hunter gatherers kept doing what they did best. Some may have found a nice, secluded space and settled. Some of those may have grown and joined the space (as in taking it up) race. Many remained humble and lived a simple life; for as long as they could anyway.

As for all the go-getter tribes/ villages, the population growth was just starting. Populate – grow – expand. A simple equation and one the Earth was able to tolerate for quite a while. Villages grew prosperous and the bigwigs were more than happy to take more than their fair share.

The distinction between peasant and upper-crust was becoming clearer, and as the generations passed – normalised; “that’s just the way things are”. There were now people being born into the upper echelons. Like the son of a mob boss who never had to get their hands dirty. The father and grandfather did all the scheming and foul play. The following generations simply inherited the rewards. Of course, if they weren’t careful an overthrow was always on the cards.

As the wealth grew so too would the range of jobs and levels in the pecking order. People would prove themselves to be useful in other ways than mere farming crops or tending animals. The first obvious step up would be to become the expert in those crucial tasks. Be the go-to person for advice – the early incarnations of horticulturists and veterinarians.

All kinds of toolmakers and builders would be needed too. These trades might also be utilized for making weapons and fortifications. I am sure that hunting would still be an important ritual even if there was enough food. A valuable skill to keep and possibly an initiation right. The same would go for fishing and general survival out in the elements. These abilities may be needed in times of trouble. This was not an ancient version of the Boy Scouts (although they were learning to ‘be prepared’).

People may be needed to explore to find greener pastures or maybe even spy on neighbouring groups. Coastal peoples would be heading out on voyages of both fishing and discovery. Unfortunately, these people were human and when they see something someone else has that they like envy is never far away. I’ll get into that in the next post.

Most self-respecting tribes would be focused (at least in the beginning) on improving their own village. They might begin with just stealing ideas from other groups – intellectual property if you will. A better tool or method they can adopt. Got to keep up with the Jones’s you know.

Before the inter-village rivalry really kicked off, the gluttons were too busy misappropriating from their own groups. Some were possibly content with this (or too short sighted maybe) and concentrated on improving the village yields and then milking that for themselves and their offspring. Sooner or later though the craving for more spills over to what the other tribes/villages have.