The important book Biohistory by Jim Penman describes a bio…

The important book Biohistory by Jim Penman describes a biological theory of animals that he applies to human societies which can be used to characterize the original agriculturals and pastorals. Penmann has two types which he calls baboons and gibbons. The baboons are a population that is limited by predation, whereas the gibbons are limited by food supply. The baboons are incentivized to "live fast and die young" since they can't do much to increase their own lifespan. They need to have children quickly so that they don't miss out. The gibbons, by contrast, are incentivized to amass the resources for children before having any. Thus, they tend to have children later and males must establish a territory before they can attract mates. An interesting thing about humans is that humans are their own apex predator. Thus, when we talk about human societies that are limited by predation rather than food supply, we are talking about war, and we are talking about a people who would rather go to war than till a field.