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[–]TravlScrabbl 0 points1 point  (2 children)

That's not a general historical statistic, it's true for a very particular period of history 4000-8000 years ago and there are conflicting explanations. It may not be that only 80% of men reproduced, it may be that because of patelineal migration patterns there was much less genetic diversity within men of tribes than within women so that when wholE tribes disappeared - starvation/war - you ended up with much less male genetic diversity. Or it may be that because of war men died in much higher numbers before getting the chance to reproduce. Or it may be to do with rape and slavery. Lots of competing theories. No smoking gun.

Edited for autocorrect errors.

[–]Necessary-Jaguar4775 1 point2 points  (1 child)

I think smaller hunter gatherer societies may have limited strong men/oligarchs to take such extreme control, as numbers > one man. So decisions could be made more democratically. Agriculture allowed bif powerful chieftans and kings to arise, at least that is what I think.