Week 3: the great transformation

Question 1

Exponential growth:

Answer 1

• Growth by a fixed percentage (=growth rate), where each increase is added to the principal

Question 2

Modes of adaption

Answer 2

Distinct periods in the evolution of the human-environment interaction

Question 3

Ecosphere

Answer 3

The great transformation refers to the transformation of the ecosphere from its ‘natural state’ by human action

Question 4

Sustainable development

Answer 4

Is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs

Question 5

Hunter-Gatherer Society

Answer 5

• Most or all food is obtained from wild plants and animals
• Altered environment to increase utility (e.g. use of fire to make it easier to move around and create open space for game)
• Depleted the local environment around their camps
  
  • Evidence of conflicts between societies
• Moved on to new areas once current location was depleted
  Sustainable?
• Locally: No
• Regionally: Yes
• Globally: Yes

Question 6

Industrial Revolution

Answer 6

• About 1760 to 1820/40
• Began in Great Britain and spread to Western Europe and North America
• Steam-engines fueled by coal
• From labor-intensive, craft-based cottage industries to
  machine-based production  rise of the factory system
• Increased production required steady supply of energy and
  raw materials  development of transportation systems
• Wealth from colonies provide capital and raw materials
• Serious social, health and environ. problems in cities led to pressures for reforms  sanitation, health care, …
• Sustainable? No

Question 7

Anthropocene

Answer 7

Proposed epoch (=geol. Time period) that begins when human activities started to become a major geological force.

Question 8

Conclusion:

Answer 8

• All human societies have modified their environment is some ways.
• Some of the interactions with the environment were sustainable, others were not.
• Different modes of adaptation supported different levels of global populations.
  For the majority of human history, the global population was small, but the changes from the industrial revolution resulted in a population explosion.