The study, which analyzed 30,000 years of human history, has shown that a population’s ability to withstand and recover from frequent disruptions increases resilience. This is according to the journal Nature, which published the findings of Philip Riris and his colleagues who quantified patterns of prehistoric population resistance to disturbance at 16 sites around the world.
Frequent crashes were found to increase a population’s ability to withstand and recover from disruptions. However, this effect was influenced by land use patterns, with agricultural and pastoral societies more susceptible to crises but also more resilient overall. The study draws parallels with ecology, where natural disturbances are believed to increase the long-term resilience of ecosystems.
The authors suggest that long-term human growth may have been supported by positive feedback cycles of vulnerability, resistance, and recovery. This study sheds light on the importance of resilience in shaping human societies throughout history and has implications for future population growth and resilience-building strategies.