A Brief History of the World 10,000 years in 4 days!

A Brief History of the World

10,000 years in 4 days!

The World in 2010The World in 2010 Spaceship Earth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmMUuR--Qvo

How unique is America? How “lucky” are we? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou

mVHSj6AE8

How did we arrive here?

3 Factors1.Subsistence practices2.Exchange systems3.Material equipment used to make a living (technology)

SurvivalSurvival

5 Main Subsistence Patterns1. Foraging (Hunter-gathers)2. Pastoralism (raising domesticated animals)3. Horticulture4. Agriculture (more intensive than horticulture)5. Industrialism

SurvivalSurvival

The First 6 Million The First 6 Million Years…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) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P

ro6X_Kc5wA&feature=fvw

Egalitarian

“The Original Affluent Society” – Marshall Sahlins What is affluence?

The Origins of The Origins of InequalityInequality

Jared Diamond Thesis (NOT fact): The roots of

inequality in today’s world boil down to geographic luck.

8,000 years ago – Agriculture emerges almost simultaneously in 5 places

Key to Diamond’s 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 RevolutionIndustrial Revolution About 240 years ago

“Picks up steam” (pun intended) about 150 years ago

Trends from Foraging to Trends from Foraging to

IndustrialismIndustrialism

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