HIST 122 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Anthropocene, Industrial Revolution, Ecological Footprint
Document Summary
Anthropocene: marked by tremendous leaps in the population (growth) Somatic energy regime: de ning somatic energy energy produced by the body (human or animal, storing somatic energy you do this by controlling people and keeping livestock. The reason why most societies had slaves throughout history was precisely to control somatic energy. The more people you have under your control, the more energy you have, more chances you have of producing work. Coal consumption : 1808 10 million metric tons, 1900 1000 million metric tons, 1990 5000 million metric tons. Steam engine : ef ciency before 1800 1% so very unreliable, capacity in 1800 30, capacity in 1900 had the equivalent power compared to 6000 people working together, advantages, feedback loop and coal consumption. Internal combustion engines : advantages, replacement of biomass fuel, global disparity and inequity. Oil consumption: 1800: 0 consumption, 1900: 20 million metric tons, 1990: 3000 million metric tons.
