Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Book Review
A Short History of Progress by Ronald Wright
Ronald is a Historian and documents the rise and fall of specific civilisations and cultures with regard to today's society. He warns of a impending limit to growth or "Dark Age" ahead similar in message to Jane Jacobs.
Failed civilisations that he highlights are at Easter Island and ancient Sumer, who out stripped their resources until there was nothing left to sustain the human population. Maya and Rome civilisations expanded and declined due to poor governance but left lasting legacies in local and adjacent areas. One interesting fact he highlights is the effect that smallpox had on North American aboriginals. He says, "When the Pilgrims arrived in Massachusetts, the Indians had died out so recently that the whites found empty cabins, winter corn, and cleared fields waiting to their use."
Discovery of the "New World" no only brought new land but high yield crops which originated there, including, maize, beans, squash, pumpkin, potatoes, chili, tomatoes, cocoa beans and pineapple. None of these were indigenous to Europe contrary to public preconceptions. Wheat and barley were relatively low yield crops prior to that and required high labour to harvest them.
Longer running civilisations in China and Egypt were blessed with very fertile soil that could support large populations and made land management easier.
