The Rice Hypothesis: How Crops Create Culture - Tuesday's Edition

How culture originated

Walk the raised paths between rice paddies in Guangdong, Bangladesh, or Mali. Water sits in every field. Channels cut between them, linking each farm. One farmer’s drain water is another farmer’s supply. You help the family to your left plant this week, and next week they help you. The next week, you will help the family to your right because no househo…