I think if someone pitched this to Netflix or Amazon, they'd probably be willing to make it. Heck, I had all kinds of fantasy ideas around making a culture like that. Very interesting stuff.
Interesting... I just finished reading "Selective Breeding and the Birth of Philosophy" which posits two points somewhat related to your post:
1) The prototypical early "aristocratic" society was formed when a nomadic hunter-gatherer society invaded and essentially "occupied" a sedentary, agricultural society. The "warrior caste" typically ruled and fought, while the farmers... continued to farm. Over time, there would either be enough inbreeding for the differences to fade and produce a somewhat homogenous population (Athens), or, not (Sparta vs the Helots).
2) Selective breeding habits were intended to (and often did) produce individual geniuses that could credibly threaten to become tyrants. Often these were individuals of somewhat mixed race or ethnicity. Nietzsche speculated that this "inner turmoil" drove them to push themselves harder, question everything, and go ask Socrates for advice as to how to overthrow the local Democracy.
Oh, that sounds like an interesting book that's up my alley! I hope you write a review. Out of curiosity, did they mention the Egyptians at all? I seem to remember something along those lines happening with one of the northern groups the Egyptians had conflicts with, but it's been awhile since I read whatever source I am vaguely remembering.
Re: selective breeding, I'm not familiar with anything beyond a very basic "the elites married elites" caste and class system stuff, do you have any examples of individuals you could name offhand if I wanted to learn more? Or should I wait for the review :P
I think if someone pitched this to Netflix or Amazon, they'd probably be willing to make it. Heck, I had all kinds of fantasy ideas around making a culture like that. Very interesting stuff.
Interesting... I just finished reading "Selective Breeding and the Birth of Philosophy" which posits two points somewhat related to your post:
1) The prototypical early "aristocratic" society was formed when a nomadic hunter-gatherer society invaded and essentially "occupied" a sedentary, agricultural society. The "warrior caste" typically ruled and fought, while the farmers... continued to farm. Over time, there would either be enough inbreeding for the differences to fade and produce a somewhat homogenous population (Athens), or, not (Sparta vs the Helots).
2) Selective breeding habits were intended to (and often did) produce individual geniuses that could credibly threaten to become tyrants. Often these were individuals of somewhat mixed race or ethnicity. Nietzsche speculated that this "inner turmoil" drove them to push themselves harder, question everything, and go ask Socrates for advice as to how to overthrow the local Democracy.
Oh, that sounds like an interesting book that's up my alley! I hope you write a review. Out of curiosity, did they mention the Egyptians at all? I seem to remember something along those lines happening with one of the northern groups the Egyptians had conflicts with, but it's been awhile since I read whatever source I am vaguely remembering.
Re: selective breeding, I'm not familiar with anything beyond a very basic "the elites married elites" caste and class system stuff, do you have any examples of individuals you could name offhand if I wanted to learn more? Or should I wait for the review :P
A mini-review is already available in my DSL log topic!
I probably won't write much more... it's more of a philosophy book than a history book and probably not well suited to answer your questions.
Hrm I must have missed it. Thanks!