What do we know about the comparative levels of violence between european neolithic farmers and steppe pastoralists?

I'm really biased in favour of using 'climate change causes' because of alarm at the current state of affairs. Drawing parallels with the past to say "look at all the terrible things can happen!" (Eric Cline with "1177 the year civilisation collapsed" is a good example of this) is so seductive if you think action on climate change is urgent. I know I'm not thinking straight because I want to believe. The same way the feminist in me thinks it would be awesome if Mariju Gimbutas was right and neolithic farmers were egalitarian and venerated aspects of feminity. But the evidence just isn't there (at least for her claims)

It's hard to overcome our own psychological needs and biases and separate political agendas from what we actually know and what we have clear cut evidence for.

/r/history Thread Parent