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Life and Death of Cities.



On 11 Dec 1996 15:50:58 GMT, "Richard W. Tarara"
<rtarara@saintmarys.edu> wrote:

>                           .  Cities
>didn't form originally until agricultural technology had produced food
>surpluses.  Up until then, you either grew you OWN food, or hunted for it. 
 
This is false, except for "large" cities.
 
You cannot grow your own food until you have identified seed.  This
requires an accumulation of gathered plant surplus which is most
unlikely without prior division of labour, at minimum between hunters
and gatherers, plus the profitable trade between them.  Then you have
to identify which seeds work where at what time of year -- a Research
and Development project which can only have major effects if it
spreads by word of mouth from those who discover to those who follow.
 
Translation:
 
The information revolution comes first.
 
The commercial revolution comes second.
 
The agricultural revolution, which is still going on, comes last.
 
                                              -dlj.
 




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