“In Dusty Archives, A Theory of Affluence,” Nicholas Wade for the New York Times

Wanted to insert this story to point out one of my favorite authors, Jared Diamond, whose quote within this article is mentioned and used as a focal point for this much larger in-depth look at where civilization evolved. Worth placing in today’s maggiesmusings’ journal. From those 2,000+ year-old terra cotta soldiers in X’ian, pottery in general from ancient Greece to China, to ancient writing and man-made tools, all must have come from somewhere, no? Though I do not wholly agree with Wade’s assumptions, he misses the mark in some respect since he is implying that the industrial revolution NOT man’s placement geographically — is it an accident? — in the fertile crescent is where a debate can ensue here, but I won’t go there. I shall leave it to the reader to decide, or just pick up the book, “Guns, Germs & Steel.” You won’t be able to put it down.

By NICHOLAS WADE for the New York Times
Published: 7 August 2007

For thousands of years, most people on earth lived in abject poverty, first as hunters and gatherers, then as peasants or laborers. But with the Industrial Revolution, some societies traded this ancient poverty for amazing affluence.

Historians and economists have long struggled to understand how this transition occurred and why it took place only in some countries. A scholar who has spent the last 20 years scanning medieval English archives has now emerged with startling answers for both questions.

Story continues, here