title: Agriculture and the energy-complexity spiral.
abstract: The study of cultural complexity is entwined with ancestors myths from contemporary cosmology. Gowdy & Krall expose this mythology by arguing that complexity emerged from economic changes following cultivation. There is more, however, to the development of cultural complexity. Complexity can emerge from abundant energy or from addressing societal problems, which compels still further energy production.
authors: Department of Environment and Society, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322-5215. joseph.tainter@usu.edu https://qcnr.usu.edu/directory/tainter_joseph
authors: Joseph A
authors: JA
authors: Tainter
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture; D006801:Humans; D009229:Mythology; D012924:Social Conditions