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!@#$%! · 05.25.2019, 08:34 AM

anyway, watched a couple of episodes of FIRST CIVILIZATIONS this week. PBS show.

http://www.pbs.org/program/first-civilizations/

the first episode advances the disturbing notion (not new, but still disturbing) that civilization is not the opposite of war but actually the result of it, and creativity and prosperity flourish after war’s conclusion, but because of war. in other words, the unification/pacification that replace the divisions that existed before the war allow for a new greater prosperity. “creative destruction,” a la schumpeter.

they do a nice job of matching the mesoamerican archeological record to a disturbing/compelling narrative that encompasses geographical advantages, developments in agriculture, weapons technology, the spreading of foreign cultures... and massacres and subsequent growth.

ep2 is about religion and group identity, and looks at egypt.

...

ep3, “cities,” heavily features both ur in mesopotamia and modern-day tokyo

deals with specialization, cooperation, and the exchange of ideas

...

ep4, “trade”, looks at the indus valley. sewers two millennia before the romans! mathematical designs. no great kings to be seen, but apparently a more “middle class” trade-based society (while it lasted).

05.25.2019, 08:34 AM	#2816
!@#$%! invito al cielo Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: mars attacks Posts: 42,481	anyway, watched a couple of episodes of FIRST CIVILIZATIONS this week. PBS show. http://www.pbs.org/program/first-civilizations/ the first episode advances the disturbing notion (not new, but still disturbing) that civilization is not the opposite of war but actually the result of it, and creativity and prosperity flourish after war’s conclusion, but because of war. in other words, the unification/pacification that replace the divisions that existed before the war allow for a new greater prosperity. “creative destruction,” a la schumpeter. they do a nice job of matching the mesoamerican archeological record to a disturbing/compelling narrative that encompasses geographical advantages, developments in agriculture, weapons technology, the spreading of foreign cultures... and massacres and subsequent growth. ep2 is about religion and group identity, and looks at egypt. ... ep3, “cities,” heavily features both ur in mesopotamia and modern-day tokyo deals with specialization, cooperation, and the exchange of ideas ... ep4, “trade”, looks at the indus valley. sewers two millennia before the romans! mathematical designs. no great kings to be seen, but apparently a more “middle class” trade-based society (while it lasted).
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