First published in 1976, this book presupposes a future in which man will be increasingly confronted by a series of global disorders. By focusing attention on these, this book attempts to identify those forces which threaten not only the quality of life but the very survival of the human species. Dr Camilleri brings a multidisciplinary approach to the study of the cultural and institutional imbalances which underlie the organization of national and international society. He examines the economic philosophy of the advanced industrial countries and the fierce rivalries to which it has given rise within the western world as well as the inequality it has encouraged and perpetuated between overdeveloped and underdeveloped societies, and the consequences of this for the world's energy economy and ecological system. The author then advances some normative concepts and ethical options as sign posts towards an alternative future society.
The primary theoretical question addressed in this book focuses on the lingering concern of how the ancient Maya in the northern Petén Basin were able to sustain large populations in the midst of a tropical forest environment during the Late Classic period. This book asks how agricultural intensification was achieved and how essential resources, such as water and forest products, were managed in both upland areas and seasonal wetlands, or bajos. All of these activities were essential components of an initially sustainable land use strategy that eventually failed to meet the demands of an escalating population. This spiraling disconnect with sound ecological principles undoubtedly contributed to the Maya collapse. The book's findings provide insights that broaden the understanding of the rise of social complexity - the expansion of the political economy, specifically - and, in general terms, the trajectory of cultural evolution of the ancient Maya civilization.
A pioneering global trend forecaster predicts how the collision of tribalism, climate change, and new technologies will shape the culture and commerce of the next two decades―a must-read guide for business leaders, entrepreneurs and anyone looking for an edge in our chaotic timesTwenty years ago, people around the world prepared for the Y2K computer glitch that would supposedly bring the global economy to its knees. Rather than overnight disruption, humankind instead slipped gradually into two decades of economic and ecological turmoil, extremism, and divisiveness, all set against the backdrop of a newly global and digital civilization. So what’s in store for the next two decades? In this acutely observed guide, renowned trendspotter Marian Salzman, whose past predictions came uncannily close to reality in the '90s and the '00s, unpacks the course of human life from the bumpy turn of the millennium through the pandemic era, when chaos and “together apart” seemed to become the new norma
The primary theoretical question addressed in this book focuses on the lingering concern of how the ancient Maya in the northern Petén Basin were able to sustain large populations in the midst of a tropical forest environment during the Late Classic period. This book asks how agricultural intensification was achieved and how essential resources, such as water and forest products, were managed in both upland areas and seasonal wetlands, or bajos. All of these activities were essential components of an initially sustainable land use strategy that eventually failed to meet the demands of an escalating population. This spiraling disconnect with sound ecological principles undoubtedly contributed to the Maya collapse. The book's findings provide insights that broaden the understanding of the rise of social complexity - the expansion of the political economy, specifically - and, in general terms, the trajectory of cultural evolution of the ancient Maya civilization.
