A Brief History of the World 10,000 years in 4 days!
The World in 2010 Spaceship Earth uR--Qvo uR--Qvo How unique is America? How lucky are we? j6AE8 j6AE8 How did we arrive here?
3 Factors 1.Subsistence practices 2.Exchange systems 3.Material equipment used to make a living (technology) Survival
5 Main Subsistence Patterns 1. Foraging (Hunter-gathers) 2. Pastoralism (raising domesticated animals) 3. Horticulture 4. Agriculture (more intensive than horticulture) 5. Industrialism Survival
The First 6 Million Years… All humans were foragers until 10,000 years ago 90% of all people who ever lived 99% of human history Small groups (<100 people) _Kc5wA&feature=fvw _Kc5wA&feature=fvw Egalitarian The Original Affluent Society – Marshall Sahlins What is affluence?
The Origins of Inequality Jared Diamond Thesis (NOT fact): The roots of inequality in todays world boil down to geographic luck.
8,000 years ago – Agriculture emerges almost simultaneously in 5 places
Key to Diamonds Thesis: Spread easily east to west, not north to south b/c of different climates
Profound cultural changes came with the domestication of plants and animals 10,000 years ago
More permanent and larger settlements (close to water)
Increased Population
Division of Labor
More elaborate governments (chiefdoms, states)
By 1450, patterns of subsistence were distributed like this… Most agriculture develops along the Tropic of Cancer (yellow)
By 1450, patterns of subsistence were distributed like this… Draft animals and other technologies spread east-west through the wide continent (yellow box)
By 1450, patterns of subsistence were distributed like this… Horticulture thrives in fertile tropical areas (green)
By 1450, patterns of subsistence were distributed like this… Pastoralism develops on the edge of food cultivation areas…or where food cultivation thrived but now fails (orange)
By 1450, patterns of subsistence were distributed like this… Foraging has been pushed into sparse environments (red)
Industrial Revolution About 240 years ago Picks up steam (pun intended) about 150 years ago
Trends from Foraging to Industrialism Increasing population Greater production, surplus, and wealth Greater diversity of products Greater diversity of jobs But… Less efficiency Increased social and economic inequality Increased social conflict Increased labor demand