Skip to main content
G:W1:6 4
Edit position
Edit position

Last set 1 day, 6 hours ago. Manual moves override automatic placement until the next shelfie/spine match.

Against the grain : a deep history of the earliest states
Diagnose this book
Open in Vernon Browser

Against the grain : a deep history of the earliest states

by James C. Scott

This study challenges traditional narratives regarding the rise of early civilisations by examining archaeological evidence of domestication and sedentary agriculture. It explores the origins of agrarian states, the impact of disease, and the role of unfree labour.

Accession 12583 ISBN 9780300182910 Publisher —
Book Images
Reference and live side by side Hover to see live images
Reference
Against the grain : a deep history of the earliest states spine
Against the grain : a deep history of the earliest states cover
Live
Against the grain : a deep history of the earliest states live spine
Against the grain : a deep history of the earliest states live cover
Against the grain : a deep history of the earliest states spine Against the grain : a deep history of the earliest states live spine
Against the grain : a deep history of the earliest states cover Against the grain : a deep history of the earliest states live cover
TAGS
Curated Derived
Animals Archaeology Biography Civilisation Control Crime Culture Food and Drink Geography History Humanity Life Sciences Plants Political Science Politics Science Social Sciences
CONNECTIONS
No connections
State
on_shelf
True
position_updated_at
2026-06-05 17:01
orientation
vertical
Details

Physical

binding_type
Hard Back
dimensions
234.00 (H) × 156.00 (W) × 22.00 (T) mm
spine_text
none captured

Metadata

Book form
LOCATION HISTORY
G:W1:6 4 Current vertical
3 days, 11 hours ago
G:W1:6 4 vertical
3 days, 14 hours ago
G:W1:6 4 vertical
5 days, 9 hours ago
G:W1:6 4 vertical
1 week, 4 days ago
G:W1:6 4 vertical
2 weeks, 3 days ago
G:W1:6 4 vertical
2 weeks, 4 days ago
G:W1:6 4 vertical
3 weeks, 1 day ago
G:W1:6 4 vertical
3 weeks, 1 day ago
G:W1:6 4 vertical
3 weeks, 4 days ago
Unknown location vertical
3 weeks, 5 days ago
Book Location
Updated 1 day, 6 hours ago
Vernon snapshot
View live

Frozen copy of Vernon's record from the last sync. Fields tagged → flow back into the Pulse record.

Last synced 2026-05-21 00:57 (2 weeks, 2 days ago)

Identity

name→ title
Against the grain : a deep history of the earliest states
vernon_id
19723
accession_no→ accession_number
12583
vernon_slug
against-the-grain-a-deep-history-of-the-earliest-states-james-c-scott

Drives Pulse state

curr_loc_status→ on_shelf
On Shelf, Stored
location_name
Zone W1 (Live bays)/Level 1/Phrontisterion/MONA
location_reason
On Shelf
isbn_issn→ isbn (when valid)
9780300182910

Descriptive

production_date
2017
object_type
Books/Document genres/Information forms/Visual and Verbal Communication
object_status
Accessioned
brief_description
An account of all the new and surprising evidence now available for the beginnings of the earliest civilizations that contradict the standard narrative Why did humans abandon hunting and gathering for sedentary communities dependent on livestock and cereal grains, and governed by precursors of today s states? Most people believe that plant and animal domestication allowed humans, finally, to settle down and form agricultural villages, towns, and states, which made possible civilization, law, public order, and a presumably secure way of living. But archaeological and historical evidence challenges this narrative. The first agrarian states, says James C. Scott, were born of accumulations of domestications: first fire, then plants, livestock, subjects of the state, captives, and finally women in the patriarchal family-all of which can be viewed as a way of gaining control over reproduction. Scott explores why we avoided sedentism and plow agriculture, the advantages of mobile subsistence, the unforeseeable disease epidemics arising from crowding plants, animals, and grain, and why all early states are based on millets and cereal grains and unfree labor. He also discusses the barbarians who long evaded state control, as a way of understanding continuing tension between states and nonsubject peoples.

Subjects & people

authors→ author (initial fill only)
James C. Scott
tags→ tags
Cities and towns, Human settlements, Human ecology, Ecology, Environmental sciences, Science, History, Archaeology, Persons, Political science, Social sciences, Civilisation, Sociology, War, International relations, Social history, Agriculture, Crime, Social problems, Animals, History, Ancient, World history, Domestic animals, Food, Slavery, Crimes against humanity, Political science -- Philosophy, Agriculture -- History, Neolithic period, Stone age, Horticulture, Big history, Domestication, Grain, City-states, Grain -- Storage, Granaries, Political psychology, Nomads -- Sedentarisation
subject_people
—
subject_objects
—

Cover image

vernon_cover_image_id→ cover_image
19906

Raw Vernon JSON

click to inspect

The source payload behind the snapshot above.
Use ⌘F to search once expanded.
{7 keys}
"slug": "against-the-grain-a-deep-history-of-the-earliest-states-james-c-scott"
"opacObjectId": "19723"
"opacCollection": {1 keys}
"opacCollectionId": "1"
"imagesCollection": {2 keys}
"images": [1 items]
"[0]": {5 keys}
"imageId": "19906"
"cssColors": [3 items]
"[0]": {9 keys}
"hex": "778899"
"hue": 210
"rank": 1
"presence": 75.19
"colorName": "lightslategray"
"lightness": 53
"colorGroup": "gray"
"saturation": 14
"formattedColorName": "light slate gray"
"[1]": {9 keys}
"hex": "2e8b57"
"hue": 146
"rank": 2
"presence": 10.24
"colorName": "seagreen"
"lightness": 36
"colorGroup": "green"
"saturation": 50
"formattedColorName": "sea green"
"[2]": {9 keys}
"hex": "808080"
"hue": 0
"rank": 3
"presence": 1.24
"colorName": "gray"
"lightness": 50
"colorGroup": "gray"
"saturation": 0
"formattedColorName": "gray"
"rawColors": [7 items]
"[0]": {6 keys}
"hex": "f0f2f0"
"hue": 120
"rank": 1
"presence": 75.19
"lightness": 94
"saturation": 7
"[1]": {6 keys}
"hex": "397b5c"
"hue": 151
"rank": 2
"presence": 10.24
"lightness": 35
"saturation": 36
"[2]": {6 keys}
"hex": "9fa7a2"
"hue": 142
"rank": 3
"presence": 13.1
"lightness": 63
"saturation": 4
"[3]": {6 keys}
"hex": "907772"
"hue": 10
"rank": 4
"presence": 1.24
"lightness": 50
"saturation": 11
"[4]": {6 keys}
"hex": "d69e98"
"hue": 5
"rank": 5
"presence": 0.22
"lightness": 71
"saturation": 43
"[5]": {6 keys}
"hex": "c17b84"
"hue": 352
"rank": 6
"presence": 0.01
"lightness": 61
"saturation": 36
"[6]": {6 keys}
"hex": "74e4b4"
"hue": 154
"rank": 7
"presence": 0.0
"lightness": 67
"saturation": 67
"imageLabels": [10 items]
"[0]": {5 keys}
"count": 1972
"score": 85.66
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Plant"
"imageLabelId": 165
"[1]": {5 keys}
"count": 19411
"score": 84.03
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Font"
"imageLabelId": 12
"[2]": {5 keys}
"count": 15171
"score": 77.94
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Book"
"imageLabelId": 67
"[3]": {5 keys}
"count": 242
"score": 77.06
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "People in nature"
"imageLabelId": 589
"[4]": {5 keys}
"count": 829
"score": 75.35
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Grass"
"imageLabelId": 119
"[5]": {5 keys}
"count": 11006
"score": 74.31
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Art"
"imageLabelId": 4
"[6]": {5 keys}
"count": 5578
"score": 73.6
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Pattern"
"imageLabelId": 24
"[7]": {5 keys}
"count": 11760
"score": 73.46
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Poster"
"imageLabelId": 21
"[8]": {5 keys}
"count": 1094
"score": 72.39
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Tree"
"imageLabelId": 192
"[9]": {5 keys}
"count": 10019
"score": 71.76
"status": "auto_verified"
"imageLabel": "Rectangle"
"imageLabelId": 11
"imageDerivatives": [6 items]
"[0]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/large/6263/ebf548b960b8f82755446d0d66ce38cb1a9dbb48.jpg"
"width": "558"
"height": "800"
"identifier": "LARGE"
"[1]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/medium/6263/ebf548b960b8f82755446d0d66ce38cb1a9dbb48.jpg"
"width": "279"
"height": "400"
"identifier": "MEDIUM"
"[2]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/nano/6263/ebf548b960b8f82755446d0d66ce38cb1a9dbb48.jpg"
"width": "24"
"height": "35"
"identifier": "NANO"
"[3]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/small/6263/ebf548b960b8f82755446d0d66ce38cb1a9dbb48.jpg"
"width": "105"
"height": "150"
"identifier": "SMALL"
"[4]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/tiny/6263/ebf548b960b8f82755446d0d66ce38cb1a9dbb48.jpg"
"width": "52"
"height": "75"
"identifier": "TINY"
"[5]": {4 keys}
"url": "https://browser.mona.net.au/records/images/xlarge/6263/ebf548b960b8f82755446d0d66ce38cb1a9dbb48.jpg"
"width": "837"
"height": "1200"
"identifier": "XLARGE"
"totalImages": 1
"objectSearchScore": 0.3118719
"opacObjectFieldSets": [40 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "accession_no"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "12583"
"[1]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "name"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "Against the grain : a deep history of the earliest states / James C. Scott"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "title"
"value": "Against the grain : a deep history of the earliest states / James C. Scott"
"[2]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "other_name"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[3]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "artist_last_first"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "Scott, James C."
"[4]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "prod_pri_date"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "2017"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [2 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "earliest_date"
"value": "2017-01-01Z"
"[1]": {2 keys}
"key": "latest_date"
"value": "2017-12-31Z"
"[5]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "prod_pri_date_notes"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[6]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "edition"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[7]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "brief_desc"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "An account of all the new and surprising evidence now available for the beginnings of the earliest civilizations that contradict the standard narrative Why did humans abandon hunting and gathering for sedentary communities dependent on livestock and cereal grains, and governed by precursors of today s states? Most people believe that plant and animal domestication allowed humans, finally, to settle down and form agricultural villages, towns, and states, which made possible civilization, law, public order, and a presumably secure way of living. But archaeological and historical evidence challenges this narrative. The first agrarian states, says James C. Scott, were born of accumulations of domestications: first fire, then plants, livestock, subjects of the state, captives, and finally women in the patriarchal family-all of which can be viewed as a way of gaining control over reproduction. Scott explores why we avoided sedentism and plow agriculture, the advantages of mobile subsistence, the unforeseeable disease epidemics arising from crowding plants, animals, and grain, and why all early states are based on millets and cereal grains and unfree labor. He also discusses the barbarians who long evaded state control, as a way of understanding continuing tension between states and nonsubject peoples."
"[8]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "measure_desc"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[9]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "credit_line"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[10]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "curr_loc_status"
"opacObjectFields": [2 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "On Shelf"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "curr_loc_status:"On Shelf""
"[1]": {2 keys}
"value": "Stored"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "curr_loc_status:"Stored""
"[11]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "ob_status"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "Accessioned"
"[12]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "lender"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[13]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "copyright_owner"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[14]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "copyright_type"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[15]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "copyright_start"
"opacObjectFields": [0 items]
"[16]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "copyright_expiry"
"opacObjectFields": [0 items]
"[17]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "copyright_notes"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[18]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "curr_loc"
"opacObjectFields": [2 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "Zone W1 (Live bays)/Level 1/Phrontisterion/MONA"
"[1]": {1 keys}
"value": "Duplicate; Reserve; Open-ended Shelving/Back store room/Chardonnay Drive"
"[19]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "object_type"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "Books/Document genres/Information forms/Visual and Verbal Communication"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "object_type:"Books/Document genres/Information forms/Visual and Verbal Communication""
"[20]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "collection"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "Main Collection/Library"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "collection:"Main Collection/Library""
"[21]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "prod_pri_place"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "New Haven/Connecticut/United States of America"
"[22]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "prod_pri_publisher"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[23]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "physical_notes"
"opacObjectFields": [2 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "xvii, 312 pages ; 23 cm."
"[1]": {1 keys}
"value": "Includes bibliographical references and index."
"[24]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "language"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[25]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "isbn_issn"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "9780300182910"
"[26]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "user_sym_1"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "630.901 SCO"
"[27]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "usual_loc_being"
"opacObjectFields": [2 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "Zone W1 (Live bays)/Level 1/Phrontisterion/MONA"
"[1]": {1 keys}
"value": "Side B/Stack 2/Library Storeroom/Zone 1/Ground/Moonah Offices & Storage"
"[28]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_class"
"opacObjectFields": [18 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "Agriculture"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Agriculture""
"[1]": {2 keys}
"value": "Agriculture -- History"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Agriculture -- History""
"[2]": {2 keys}
"value": "Archaeology/History"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Archaeology/History""
"[3]": {2 keys}
"value": "Big history/History"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Big history/History""
"[4]": {2 keys}
"value": "City-states/Cities and towns/Human settlements/Human ecology/Ecology/Environmental sciences/Science"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"City-states/Cities and towns/Human settlements/Human ecology/Ecology/Environmental sciences/Science""
"[5]": {2 keys}
"value": "Domestication/Domestic animals/Animals"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Domestication/Domestic animals/Animals""
"[6]": {2 keys}
"value": "Grain -- Storage/Food"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Grain -- Storage/Food""
"[7]": {2 keys}
"value": "Grain/Food"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Grain/Food""
"[8]": {2 keys}
"value": "Granaries/Grain -- Storage/Food"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Granaries/Grain -- Storage/Food""
"[9]": {2 keys}
"value": "History, Ancient/World history/History"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"History, Ancient/World history/History""
"[10]": {2 keys}
"value": "Horticulture/Agriculture"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Horticulture/Agriculture""
"[11]": {2 keys}
"value": "Neolithic period/Stone age/Civilisation"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Neolithic period/Stone age/Civilisation""
"[12]": {2 keys}
"value": "Political psychology/Political science/Social sciences/Civilisation"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Political psychology/Political science/Social sciences/Civilisation""
"[13]": {2 keys}
"value": "Political science -- Philosophy/Social sciences/Civilisation"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Political science -- Philosophy/Social sciences/Civilisation""
"[14]": {2 keys}
"value": "Political science/Social sciences/Civilisation"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Political science/Social sciences/Civilisation""
"[15]": {2 keys}
"value": "Nomads -- Sedentarisation/Persons"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Nomads -- Sedentarisation/Persons""
"[16]": {2 keys}
"value": "Slavery/Crimes against humanity/Crime/Social problems/Social history/Sociology/Social sciences/Civilisation"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"Slavery/Crimes against humanity/Crime/Social problems/Social history/Sociology/Social sciences/Civilisation""
"[17]": {2 keys}
"value": "War/International relations"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_class:"War/International relations""
"[29]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_date"
"opacObjectFields": [0 items]
"[30]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_event"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[31]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_period"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[32]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_object"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[33]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_person"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[34]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "subject_place"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"value": "Iraq"
"opacObjectFieldAttributes": [1 items]
"[0]": {2 keys}
"key": "search"
"value": "subject_place:"Iraq""
"[35]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "assoc_person"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[36]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "assoc_place"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[37]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "assoc_event"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[38]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "assoc_object"
"opacObjectFields": [1 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": ""
"[39]": {2 keys}
"identifier": "user_sym_9"
"opacObjectFields": [2 items]
"[0]": {1 keys}
"value": "1: Book: Shelf copy."
"[1]": {1 keys}
"value": "2: Duplicate: xvii, 312 pages ; 23 cm."
"relationshipsCollection": {2 keys}
"relationships": [1 items]
"[0]": {4 keys}
"relatedRecords": [1 items]
"[0]": {3 keys}
"slug": "james-c-scott"
"title": "James C. Scott"
"relatedRecordId": "11897"
"relationshipId": "object_prod_pri_person"
"relatedRecordType": "person"
"totalRelatedRecords": 1
"totalRelationships": 1
Topics and Themes