This text explores four major features of human society in their ecological and historical context: the origins of priests and organised religion; the rise of military men in an agrarian society; economic expansion and growth; and civilising and decivilising trends over time.

Johan Goudsblom, Eric Jones, Stephen Mennell

Introduction, Stephen Mennell; Chapter 1 Human History and Long-Term Social Processes: Toward a Synthesis of Chronology and Phaseology, Johan Goudsblom; Chapter 2 Ecological Regimes and the Rise of Organized Religion, Johan Goudsblom; Chapter 3 The Formation of Military-Agrarian Regimes, Johan Goudsblom; Chapter 4 Extensive Growth in the Premodern World, Eric Jones; Chapter 5 Recurrent Transitions to Intensive Growth, Eric Jones; Chapter 6 Civilizing and Decivilizing Processes, Stephen Mennell; Chapter 7 Asia and Europe: Comparing Civilizing Processes, Stephen Mennell;