Key Findings
Riris found that societies tend to become more resilient after experiencing downturns. Contrary to what one might expect, frequent downturns actually lead to faster recoveries and less severe impacts. He also discovered that different rhythms of collapse and growth are correlated to the specific practices of each society. For instance, societies that raised livestock or farmed the land grew more quickly but were also more susceptible to climate changes, which made them more prone to downturns.
Population Findings
To track population changes, Riris used carbon-14 dating, a method that measures the radioactive decay in organic matter like charcoal or mussel shells. His team analyzed over 40,000 carbon-14 measurements from 16 populations to identify patterns of population crashes and recoveries, which allowed them to estimate the ages of archaeological sites and population sizes based on the amount of organic material left behind. One significant finding was the population crash in the East around 8,200 years ago, which took more than 2,000 years to recover from. In contrast, societies in regions like the Korean Peninsula, the central plains of China, and the Caribbean demonstrated enhanced resilience, bouncing back more quickly from downturns. These variations illustrate how the ways in which people lived influenced their capacity to recover from societal shocks.
Theories and Speculations
Climate change emerged as a major factor influencing societal downturns. Riris speculated that societies learn crucial survival strategies during downturns, which are then passed down through generations. This process leads to innovations, technologies, and practices that help societies better withstand future challenges. Interestingly, this pattern of increased resilience in the face of repeated stressors is similar to what ecologists observe in forest ecosystems.
Works Cited
Zimmer, Carl. “What Makes a Society More Resilient? Frequent Hardship.” The New York Times, The New York Times, 1 May 2024, www.nytimes.com/2024/05/01/science/resilient-societies-climate-change.html#:~:text=Society%20More%20Resilient%3F-,Frequent%20Hardship.,more%20quickly%20from%20future%20shocks.&text=From%20the%20Roman%20Empire%20to,is%20filled%20with%20social%20collapses.
Davis, Paula. “How Adversity Makes You Stronger.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 20 Feb. 2024, www.forbes.com/sites/pauladavislaack/2020/03/26/adversity-makes-you-stronger/.
Saybrook. “The Benefits of Adversity: Saybrook.” Unbound, 14 Feb. 2024, www.saybrook.edu/unbound/benefits-adversity-are-very-very-real/.
