Explores how gifts braided survival, status, and power across ancient societies.
In some ancient societies, gifting weaponry actually restrained violence by creating obligations, not sparks of rivalry.
The earliest tribute systems used reciprocity to stabilize coinless economies, turning generosity into social credit rather than charity.
Gifts functioned as social scaffolding: reciprocal acts could publicly seal alliances for generations, overshadowing formal treaties.
Hidden in hunter-gatherer exchanges were complex calendars of obligation, where gifts triggered timed reciprocation wars weeks later.
In some ancient societies, gifting weaponry actually restrained violence by creating obligations, not sparks of rivalry.
The earliest tribute systems used reciprocity to stabilize coinless economies, turning generosity into social credit rather than charity.
Gifts functioned as social scaffolding: reciprocal acts could publicly seal alliances for generations, overshadowing formal treaties.
Hidden in hunter-gatherer exchanges were complex calendars of obligation, where gifts triggered timed reciprocation wars weeks later.
