economics. Events of 5,000 to 10,000 years ago were of determining influence on the future shape of the world economy

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Economics

2. “Events of 5,000 to 10,000 years ago were of determining influence on the future shape of the world economy – the hand of history’s course at 8,000 – 3,000 BCE lies heavily on us.” Explain and discuss.

The events that occurred on the verge of 5000 to 10000 years ago had a great influence on today’s economic lines. A lot of civilizations and inceptions were done during those ages that paved way for the modern economic societies. These inceptions despite a lot of time having passed still have a great influence in today’s economic regimes. Some of the economic practices of the ancient years have been passed through generations and are evident in the contemporary world despite some sorts of modifications (Shebaka 465). These practices are a clear indicator that links of the past to the present have not been completely broken. Most of the rules that governed commerce even before the Common Era are evident even in today’s systems. During the 8000-3000 BCE there was large existence of pre-pottery micro lithic industries. Therefore, it can be concluded that the hand of the history course has shaped the world economy to date.

4. Did human economic development proceed at different rates on different continents and parts of continents, 10,000 BCE to 500 CE, and if so, why, and if not, why not?

Human economic development proceeded at totally different rates on different continents and parts of continents during the ancient years of 10,000 BCE and 500 CE. In the native Americas, two societies that are the Incas and the Aztecs ruled over empires with stone tools and some even used minerals. Different civilizations in different continents happened at different times (Melvin 56). Most civilizations began at a central point from where the diffused to other parts in the world. This was the case with the inception of economic activities in the world. The art of trade began in regions of North America from where they diffused to other parts of the world. African continent received these civilizations in the last place. This reason hence brought about differentiation of economic development in different continents as well as in the different parts of those continents. In ancient times there was little or no technology which made the rate of diffusion of ideas to be very low.

5. “Technology develops fastest in large productive regions with large populations and many competing societies. Initial differences become exaggerated, because technology catalyzes on itself. Eurasia’s considerable initial advantage became translated into a huge lead, for reasons of Eurasia’s distinctive geography rather than distinctive human intellect.” Discuss.

The history of technology can be traced back to the invention of a wheel in the ancient time. Technological innovations affect and are affected by the societies’ cultural traditions and demographic factors. The west mostly measures technological advancement of an area with regards to energy. The diffusion and development of technology in a given area is highly dependent on the demographics of a given area. This demographic factor includes the numbers as well as the composition of the said population (Shebaka 354). A recent research has proved beyond any reasonable doubt that technology is bound to enjoy rapid growth in areas of high population density. This is true since the people in the said densely populated areas are constantly looking for various means to improve the livelihood in the areas. For instance, in Eurasia, their dominance in technological advancement in the world is not as a result of distinctive human intellect (Melvin 87). The large populations and the stiff competition among various societies necessitates for advanced technological innovation. These efforts are in a bid to keep abreast with the changes in their environment.

6. Explain and discuss the shift from hunting/gathering to agriculture in world economic history.

The ancient man depended purely on hunting and gathering as a source of food and other requirements. The early man had fully embraced and acquitted himself to the world. All the needed materials which include food and medicinal substances were sourced from the wild (Melvin 47). However, as the human population increased and occupied expansive regions of the globe, this kind of life proved to be difficult. The wild sources of a livelihood became scarce and were no longer sufficient for the increased human population. Man had to seek alternative ways of putting food on his table other than hunting and gathering. During the hunting and gathering error, man also made some important observations which also facilitated the switch from hunting and gathering to an agrarian economy. People no longer had to be nomadic moving from place to place within short periods of time. They required a more stable food supply that required less people provide sustenance to the rest of the populations. Women also made an observation that the disposed remains sprout into new crops just like the ones they picked from the wild (Melvin 50). All this factors saw the man shift from hunting and gathering to full time agriculture.

8. Outline and explain the major periods of population growth and decline in the world economy to around 500 CE.

Population growth is associated closely with a lot of developments in the economy that occurred in the past and is still happening in the present. Demographic growth and changes in the world are closely tied to the expansion of agriculture in the world. Between 1000 BCE and 1 CE, the world population doubled from a hundred and twenty million to about around two hundred and fifty million people. The rate of demographic growth within those years also appears to have risen by a great deal. The population growth rates were amplified by a number of factors. Coupled with increasing density of farming populations, meant that in many places human populations had no other option but to experiment with new ways of organizing their cultural, social and economic relations (Shebaka 356). Human inhabitation of urban areas increased by a great deal and majority of people settled in cities. Classical civilizations took place during the period of 200 CE and 500 CE. Common themes for the classical civilizations included territorial expansions and efforts to integrate people of territories. This period rather was characterized by a rapid increase in population.

10.“A bewildering rise and fall of states and empires mark the Classical and ancient world, but sustained population growth was the most fundamental underlying and universal factor in Classical and ancient economic history, 4,000 BCE to 500 CE.” Discuss.

Ancient world and especially the classic age were characterized by numerous empires which rose and fell. These ancient civilizations exhibited a number of activities economic ones included. These civilizations include the Aztec and the Olmec civilizations that occurred in the Americas. A number of factors led to the growth of each of the ancient societies. These civilizations thrived even before the Common Era and were well organized into social groups (Melvin 354). As they fought their way to supremacy amongst themselves, this societies developed enmity and were often involved in quarrels and tussles. During these conflicts, wars arose which resulted in numerous deaths and even some empires took captive people from other empires and integrated them into their empires. This supremacy battles therefore necessitated a sustained population for any society to ensure it emerged victorious and was never trampled over by the other societies. All means possible were put into place to ensure a sustained and rapidly growing population (Shebaka 576). This sustenance was done in a bid to protect the interest of an empire.

12. “Economic history has followed different courses for different peoples because of differences in geographies and environments, not because of biological or intellectual differences among people themselves.” Critically discuss.

Economic history has truly followed different courses as dictated by the differences in geographies and environments. There is little influence on the economic history by biological or intellectual factors. Trading activities in the ancient world were closely associated to agricultural production. Agricultural production was highly dependent on the environmental factors such as the landscape and climatic conditions (Melvin 46). Ancient economic activity can be traced to areas where agriculture began. These areas include Egypt, Rome, China and Eurasia. Agriculture enabled many to amass wealth due to involvement in trading activities. People in regions that had deep, well drained fertile soils and favorable climatic conditions and they practiced the art of agriculture enjoyed economic supremacy before other regions. Before the attainment of independence in the United States of America, plantation farming which was majorly supported by the slave trade thrived and as a result major economic growth of the country which is evident to date was experienced. Other countries such as Egypt where agriculture began still enjoy economic supremacy in the African continent (Melvin 76).

14. In the ancient and Classical world 10,000 BCE to 500 CE, sporadic technological change produced people, not per capita wealth. Differences in social development across societies translated into variations in population density, not variations in per-capita income.” Discuss.

In the ancient years much emphasis was laid on the comprehensive welfare of the society at large rather than that of an individual person. In the classic era the society lived as one and each person was highly mindful of their neighbor’s welfare. The society by then was not full of self-centered people like today. Various technological developments took place during the ancient classic period. One of the most remarkable inventions of ancient times was the wheel. Other technological inventions enabled the then societies to make notable strides in activities such as agriculture (Melvin 90). With the growth of agriculture, the outcome was a rise in food production. Since a socialistic approach was the most rampant and with a little or no capitalistic approach the increase in food production translated into a growth in the human population (Shebaka 45). In most of the empires that thrived during those ages, the materialistic gain from the sale of any produce was mostly taken to the royal families or the gods. These practices hence did not see the wealth at the individual level rise.

16. “Consideration of hunter and gatherer societies from an economic point of view suggests that have a sort of primitive affluence. The Neolithic revolution brought more work for no greater material reward.” Explain and discuss.

Neolithic revolution was in the first historically verifiable revolution in agriculture. Ancient man had a wide scale of cultures, one of the main being hunting and gathering. Neolithic revolution entailed large human population settlement and wide practice of subsistence farming. The original affluent society theory postulates that the hunter and gatherers were the original affluent society (Melvin 75). Evidence shows that the ancient man who practiced hunting and gathering was always on the brink of starvation the reason being the scarcity of resources brought about by increased populations. People during that period engaged themselves in a fight for survival… many had to store this resources they gathered from the wild. It is from this point of view that they are considered as primitively affluent. On the other hand, the custodians of the Neolithic revolution did a lot of work in domesticating wild plant and animal species. However, they practiced little or no trade amongst themselves. Much of their accumulated produce was stored or became spoilt. It is for this reason that they are considered to have done more work with little reward.

19. “The modern world’s great civilizations all go back to the original episodes of plant and animal domestication at the end of the last Ice Age.” Discuss.

Various geographical locations in the world can be referred to as cradle of civilization. Domestication of wild plant and animal species can be backdated to the lapse of the ice age. In Western Europe and the Middle Eastern cultures, some points are referred to as the cradle of civilization (Shebaka 576). This includes Levant and Mesopotamia some points in the world where domestication is believed to have begun. Other points include the Persian plateau and parts of Asia among the culture situated along large river valleys notably the Yellow river of China. Civilizations also arose independently in Egypt, North Chico and the present day Peru. Civilization in general terms refers to polities which was a combination of three systems. This includes; a ceremonial center, a writing system and a city. Most of such inceptions were done in agricultural areas including the ancient Americas civilizations. Emergence of civilization is closely linked to the close of the Neolithic revolution. The Neolithic revolution which is postulated to have happened independently over many locations is said to have brought civilization (Melvin 89). In this approach, civilization is hence closely linked to domestication.

Works cited

Melvin George E. a reference library of world history. Junior encyclopedia Britannica. 2008.

Shebaka Ibo K. world history: patterns of interaction. Evanston: McDougall Itel. 1999.