Return to previous page

The Great Leveler

Violence and the History of Inequality from the Stone Age to the Twenty-First Century
Summary:

The book examines the historical patterns of economic inequality, arguing that significant reductions in inequality have only ever been brought about by catastrophic events such as wars, revolutions, state collapse, and pandemics, which the author terms "the Four Horsemen." It presents a sweeping analysis of the dynamics that drive inequality and the drastic measures that have flattened it throughout human history.

Key points:

1. The "Four Horsemen" of Leveling: Scheidel identifies war, revolution, state collapse, and plagues as major forces that historically reduce inequality, likening them to the apocalyptic figures in the Bible.

Books similar to "The Great Leveler":