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In the beginning we were wanderers. We didn’t wander because we were trying to find ourselves; we wandered because we were HONGRY.
In the beginning we were wanderers. We didn’t wander because we were trying to find ourselves; we wandered because we were HONGRY.
So, sure, we lived in “harmony with nature” . . . which is another way of saying we tended to beat the crap out of our neighbors whenever we saw them.
So, sure, we lived in “harmony with nature” . . . which is another way of saying we tended to beat the crap out of our neighbors whenever we saw them.
electricity didn’t just expand worker productivity, it generated light, which manufactured time.
electricity didn’t just expand worker productivity, it generated light, which manufactured time.
In pushing back the night, people had more hours to (learn to) read, expanding literacy to the masses.
In pushing back the night, people had more hours to (learn to) read, expanding literacy to the masses.
The biggest restriction of this new industrial era was no longer muscle, water, or wind—or even energy in general—but instead capital.
The biggest restriction of this new industrial era was no longer muscle, water, or wind—or even energy in general—but instead capital.
The demands of industrialized infrastructure necessitated new methods of mobilizing capital: capitalism, communism, and fascism all emerged.
The demands of industrialized infrastructure necessitated new methods of mobilizing capital: capitalism, communism, and fascism all emerged.
The American story is the story of the perfect Geography of Success. That geography determines not only American power, but also America’s role in the world.
The American story is the story of the perfect Geography of Success. That geography determines not only American power, but also America’s role in the world.
No country that has ever industrialized has ever managed the process without crippling social and political mayhem. Industrialization is necessary and unavoidable, but it is hard. Unless you’re American. Understanding the why of that begins with the understanding that the United States truly is a land of plenty:
No country that has ever industrialized has ever managed the process without crippling social and political mayhem. Industrialization is necessary and unavoidable, but it is hard. Unless you’re American. Understanding the why of that begins with the understanding that the United States truly is a land of plenty:
Industrialization could and did happen in the United States, but the transformation was slower and less jarring, giving Americans generations to adapt to change.
Industrialization could and did happen in the United States, but the transformation was slower and less jarring, giving Americans generations to adapt to change.
The ability of local community banks to finance local developments prevented the sort of centralized authorities that so devastated the Russians and Chinese, or that so radicalized the Japanese and Germans.
The ability of local community banks to finance local developments prevented the sort of centralized authorities that so devastated the Russians and Chinese, or that so radicalized the Japanese and Germans.
But most of all, the Americans didn’t want an empire because they already had an empire.
But most of all, the Americans didn’t want an empire because they already had an empire.
Without a foe, the Bretton Woods alliance lost its reason to be.
Without a foe, the Bretton Woods alliance lost its reason to be.
With the Cold War security environment changed, it is a policy that no longer matches needs. What we all think of as normal is actually the most distorted moment in human history. That makes it incredibly fragile. And it is over.
With the Cold War security environment changed, it is a policy that no longer matches needs. What we all think of as normal is actually the most distorted moment in human history. That makes it incredibly fragile. And it is over.
Modern population structures—the technical term is “demographics”—are a direct outcome of the Industrial Revolution.
Modern population structures—the technical term is “demographics”—are a direct outcome of the Industrial Revolution.
matters where we live. One of the defining traits of the post–World War II era is mass urbanization.
matters where we live. One of the defining traits of the post–World War II era is mass urbanization.
Bit by bit, people found employment in the development and operationalization and refinement of these new techniques. Nearly all the new technologies required mass colocation at specific work sites with installed equipment.
Bit by bit, people found employment in the development and operationalization and refinement of these new techniques. Nearly all the new technologies required mass colocation at specific work sites with installed equipment.
output per acre triple (or more) while simultaneously reducing labor inputs. The economics of agriculture shifted irrevocably. It was no longer the towns pulling people from the farms, but now the farms were pushing people into the cities.
output per acre triple (or more) while simultaneously reducing labor inputs. The economics of agriculture shifted irrevocably. It was no longer the towns pulling people from the farms, but now the farms were pushing people into the cities.
the development of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.
output per acre triple (or more) while simultaneously reducing labor inputs. The economics of agriculture shifted irrevocably. It was no longer the towns pulling people from the farms, but now the farms were pushing people into the cities.
the development of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides.
Larger farms could be more mechanized, achieving greater efficiencies and output with less and less
Larger farms could be more mechanized, achieving greater efficiencies and output with less and less
The very rationale for small towns eroded.
The very rationale for small towns eroded.
The initial phases of the Industrial Revolution may have pulled people off the farms by providing industrial employment, and the development of synthetic agricultural inputs may have pushed them into the cities, but the global competition provided by the Order hurled farmers off their lands.
The initial phases of the Industrial Revolution may have pulled people off the farms by providing industrial employment, and the development of synthetic agricultural inputs may have pushed them into the cities, but the global competition provided by the Order hurled farmers off their lands.
But by 1945 the Germans had demonstrated that electricity was the only way to go. Suddenly a factory could be put anywhere. History sped up. The British may have blazed the path to development, but it was the Germans who paved it for the rest of us.
But by 1945 the Germans had demonstrated that electricity was the only way to go. Suddenly a factory could be put anywhere. History sped up. The British may have blazed the path to development, but it was the Germans who paved it for the rest of us.
electricity to the industrial tool kit sped up the process, so did the Digital Revolution.
electricity to the industrial tool kit sped up the process, so did the Digital Revolution.
Between roughly 1980 and 2015, all the world’s internationally wired systems fell into one of two broad buckets.
Between roughly 1980 and 2015, all the world’s internationally wired systems fell into one of two broad buckets.
In 1700 the average British woman bore 4.6 children. That’s almost identical to that of the average German woman in 1800 or the average Italian woman in 1900 or the average Korean woman in 1960 or the average Chinese woman in the early 1970s. Now, in all these countries, the new average is below 1.8 and in many cases well below.*
In 1700 the average British woman bore 4.6 children. That’s almost identical to that of the average German woman in 1800 or the average Italian woman in 1900 or the average Korean woman in 1960 or the average Chinese woman in the early 1970s. Now, in all these countries, the new average is below 1.8 and in many cases well below.*
there’s another step in the industrializationcum-urbanization process: lower mortality increases the population to such a degree that it overwhelms any impact from a decline in birth rates . . . but only for a few decades.
