Anthropologist Dr. Sarah Park argues that hunter-gatherer societies were more egalitarian and peaceful than agricultural societies, challenging the narrative of inevitable progress.
Which comparative evidence would best support Park's pre-agricultural claim?
Hunter-gatherers moved frequently
Agriculture changed society
Archaeological and ethnographic evidence shows foraging societies with minimal wealth inequality, no formal hierarchies, and violence rates 10x lower than early agricultural states, with gender relations more equal
Some hunter-gatherer groups persist
Correct Answer: C
Choice C is the best answer. Multiple measures (inequality, hierarchy, violence, gender) across archaeological and modern evidence proves the pattern.
💡 Strategy: Societal comparison claims need multiple independent measures.