Origins of sedentism: possible roles of ideology and shamanism in the transition
ANU Open Research January 1, 2019 Ross Durward Wickham 1 citation
The transition to settled life during the Neolithic was driven by social and political changes rooted in the institutionalization and manipulation of ideology, particularly shamanism. Ambitious individuals used sedentism as a strategy to gain social control, power, and wealth. Shamanistic practices made the supernatural visible, reinforcing ideological control and reducing mobility. Over time, shamanism hybridized into quasi-divine shaman-priest-leaders who dominated ceremonial centers. A three-phase model describes the emergence of collective psychology, growing importance of place, and increased individualism and social complexity. Evidence from Southwest Asia and the British Isles (5000–2000 calBC) confirms that ideology, especially shamanism, was central to aggregation and control, though settled life varied in form and was often preceded by permanent ceremonial structures.