From: EvMick@aol.com
Date: Tue Aug 05 1997 - 09:57:34 MDT
In a message dated 97-08-04 17:14:08 EDT, you write:
<< What puzzles me is how tool-use occurred throughout
humanity, but at some point stopped developing for some people, whilst
others continued to develop more and more advanced technology. >>
In relation to this idea I might add that of a "water" culture or an
Irrigation culture...in which the control of the water controls the culture.
Egypt was one such. The ruling class gets entrenched.. (no! not conspiricy
theory...) and maintains the status quo...forcefully.
In Japan gunpowder was invented....then shelved....for the ruling class were
swordsmen....and gunpowder would have upset the status quo.
China had many, many potentially explosive inventions...(also gunpowder)..of
which nothing was ever made...perhaps for the same reason.
A n aside.
Rome was destroyed by tax collectors....the barbarains just did the mopping
up.
Relegion was devoloped by the rulers to quell competetiion ....make the
populace happy with their lot.
Very Interesting..perhaps the answer would be found in a technological
history of the world rather than the usual political rendition?
EvMick
ArdMore Oklahoma
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Fri Nov 01 2002 - 14:44:41 MST