Ian Morris on what big picture history teaches us

Abstract

This article presents the work of historian Ian Morris, who argues that human values gradually evolve towards whatever system of organisation allows a society to harvest the most energy. Hunter-gatherer societies tended to be very egalitarian, which was conducive to efficient hunting and gathering. Farming societies, however, tended to be more hierarchical, as hierarchy proved to be the social structure that produced the most grain. In the modern era, democracy and individuality have proven to be more productive ways to collect and exploit fossil fuels. Morris also discusses how history is driven by both individual choices and vast impersonal forces, and how geography plays a crucial role in shaping the course of history. He argues that the Industrial Revolution happened in England rather than China because of geography and how the meaning of geography can change over time. – AI-generated abstract