Recently there has been a TIL thread about hunter-gatherers. In there, there was a comment (don't know if I can link it directly):
When tribute-taking states developed, 90% of the population were peasants who were worked to death and treated like shit by their state and most definitely lived shittier lives than they would have as hunter-gatherers. It's a good example that "progress" doesn't always necessarily mean living better lives.
This sparked upvotes/downvotes and discussion. My question is, how valid is this claim?
Not to discourage anyone, but this might be a bit more suitable for /r/AskAnthropology.
Currently reading the book Sapiens, we're the author makes a point of just that. When it comes to health and well-being, hunter - gatherers we're way better of than farmers. But farmers could produce more food in a smaller area, thus increasing population density.