Bo JacobsAug 16, 2023

Built over 4,000 years ago:

"China's ancient water pipe networks show they were a communal effort with no evidence of a centralized state authority"

#China #archaeology #RespectForTheAncestors @histodons

https://phys.org/news/2023-08-china-ancient-pipe-networks-communal.html

China's ancient water pipe networks show they were a communal effort with no evidence of a centralized state authority

A system of ancient ceramic water pipes, the oldest ever unearthed in China, shows that neolithic people were capable of complex engineering feats without the need for a centralized state authority, finds a new study by University College London researchers.

Show threadJohn GreyAug 16, 2023
@bojacobs @histodons Fascinating. Politically important. Humans can work hard and smart together without a king or equivalent.
Show threadGerard Cunningham ✒️
@johngrey @bojacobs @histodons
FSVO "king or equivalent"
Aug 16, 2023 at 11:47amWeb
Show threadPete Alex Harris🦡🕸️🌲/∞🪐∫Aug 16, 2023

@faduda @johngrey @bojacobs @histodons

A king is the equivalent of a bandit chief or gang boss. All monarchies start that way, and generally only stop behaving like that when their power to do so is taken away by popular resistance.

So yeah, people work well in teams to a clear goal, and a good project leader is maintaining the clarity of the goal and helping the team get there, whereas a king is not part of the team, and does not have interests aligned with the people in the team.

Show threadGerard Cunningham ✒️Aug 16, 2023
@petealexharris @johngrey @bojacobs @histodons
I'm sure lots of kings tell people they're project leaders. Some may even mean it. Not all power is hard, and not all hierarchies are bad.
Show threadPete Alex Harris🦡🕸️🌲/∞🪐∫Aug 16, 2023

@faduda @johngrey @bojacobs @histodons

#NotAllKings 😉

Show threadGerard Cunningham ✒️Aug 16, 2023
@petealexharris @johngrey @bojacobs @histodons Granted I may have a different perspective, since I'm from Ireland, where it was noted in the beforetimes that there are no bastards and all men are kings.