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Lived for 240,000 years as foragers
◦ Maybe that life was pretty good

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Land can support at least 50 times as many people
But not necessarily a ‘ better ’ life than foraging
◦ It ’ s hard to go back to foraging after you ’ ve farmed
 Tribe loses foraging skills
 Population has grown

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With agriculture
◦ populations increase rapidly
◦ farming creates environmental destruction
◦ elites are needed to manage government, they take surpluses
 Small elites (maybe 5%) get the benefits of civilization

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Elites build militaries to increase power
David Christian calls the overall system
‘ the tribute-taking state ’

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Early modern period (1750-1910) brings much more trade
◦ Prosperity for Europe and white America
◦ No progress elsewhere
◦ Greatly increased environmental destruction

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Trade and division of labor really do increase production
But in most of history, only a small minority has benefitted
And human production has had very negative impacts on the natural environment

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There is no simple way to bring the benefits of prosperity to all or end environmental damage

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After World War II, a real system for free trade is created
◦ Many more people can participate
◦ More people benefit
◦ Poor countrties can create new economies
◦ Many new regions, industries can prosper
◦ But environmental destruction is worse .