the anthropocene

1. 2nd Experimental High School of Athens
School Year:2016-2017
English Project
MANIS VASSILIS
1.How has man changed the earth since 4000BC up to the Digital Era? Compare Agrarian,
Modern and Digital Eras. Give historical examples of the impact these changes had on humans
and nature(need for migration , commerce-transport and global communication ,wars using the
development of science, diseases cured, famines eradicated, poverty vs wealth : huge
inequality gaps in society/western world vs developing countries).

2. Contents
 The anthropocene …………………………..3
 The Agrarian Era ……………………………………4
 The Digital Era

3. THE ANTHROPOCENE
 The Anthropocene is a proposed epoch dating
from the beginning of significant human impact
on the Earth's geology and ecosystems. The
name Anthropocene is a combination of
anthropo- from anthropos (Ancient Greek:
ἄνθρωπος) meaning "human" and -cene from
kainos (Ancient Greek: καινός) meaning "new"
or "recent.“
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropocene
 https://www.espazium.ch/uploads/5696103c91a1d.jpg

4. THE AGRARIAN ERA
 About 10,000 BC people started to move to other places, where
they could grow plants to live. They started to produce food
systematically instead of hunting or trying to find food in the wild.
In this era there were a lot of changes in societies and also many
great civilization were created.
 The three main products originally farmed were emmer, einkorn,
and barley. Because there was a lot of extra food they stored some
of it to eat during the year and they also had seeds which were
replanted the next year. Moreover during this era many inventions
were created.
 http://worldhistoryforusall.sdsu.edu/eras/era3.php
 http://libbiesteeth.blogspot.gr/2014/10/digital-scrapbook-entry-2-agrarian-era.html
 http://38.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_mdo83xsQnV1rn3wcfo1_1280.jpg

5.  In this epoch many sedentary communities were created because
they could stay in one, certain place and not move from place to
place to find food.
 However, this era is not without its drawbacks. We have some
skeleton remains ,which show that people in the start of this
epoch have new forms of diseases and stress. Farming societies
were more easily affected by diseases carried by the rats, mice,
bacteria and viruses.
 https://books.google.gr/books?id=7RdVmDjwTtQC&pg=PA307&lpg=PA307&dq=animal-
powered+transportation+in+agrarian+era&source=bl&ots=2jEndYBa50&sig=QCoPi3tzu7rVmC_JOTC5GYmPsBo&hl=el&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjn-
YDmzYXTAhXBXRQKHTxSDA0Q6AEIKDAC#v=onepage&q&f=true
 http://history-world.org/agriculture.jpg

6. Animal powered transportation
 People had already started to domesticate
some animals and keep them for farm
produce, from previous years.
 From 4000 BC they wanted to “transform”
domesticated herbivores to “machines” that
produce usable energy for people from only
grass. Thus, they used them to move from one
place to another faster than they did before.
 The use of animals (especially horses)
improved the transportation in Eurasia. It
helped the communication of people, the
commerce and the transport of not only
products but also technology, religions and
even disease immunities.
 So the Afro-Eurasia zone became the biggest
area of shared knowledge on earth.
 https://books.google.gr/books?id=7RdVmDjwTtQC&pg=PA307&lpg=PA307&dq=animal-
powered+transportation+in+agrarian+era&source=bl&ots=2jEndYBa50&sig=QCoPi3tzu7rVmC_JOTC5
GYmPsBo&hl=el&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjn-
YDmzYXTAhXBXRQKHTxSDA0Q6AEIKDAC#v=onepage&q&f=true
 http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/files/2016/01/blue-ribbon-horse-600x428.jpg
 http://img3.oldworldwandering.com/http://www.oldworldwandering.com/wp-
content/uploads/saddled-elephants.jpg&t=dbeded478b8fd3ee45f67acefeb74f00

7.  However, there are also some negative aspects. Soldiers
could move easier and faster in the battle. Also they could
go to areas far away to fight. So warfare was facilitated
 http://www.mixanitouxronou.gr/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/attila-456x300.jpg

8. Wheeled transportation
 The first wheeled vehicles appeared in Mesopotamia from
the Sumerian civilization from about 3500 BC. However we
also have some evidence from the Northern Caucasus
(Maykop culture) and Central Europe (Cucuteni-Trypillian
culture).
 The first two-wheel carts, developed to carry goods,
appear to have been used in Mesopotamia and northern
Iran in about 3000 BC and two-wheel chariots appeared in
about 2800 BC.
 Four-wheeled wagons developed about 2500 BC, they
were only suitable to be pulled by oxen, and so they were
only used for cultivating crops in Mesopotamia. Two-
wheeled chariots with spoked wheels appeared around
2000 BC in the Andronovo culture. in southern Siberia and
Central Asia.
 http://www.ancient-origins.net/ancient-technology/revolutionary-invention-wheel-001713
 http://www.ancient-origins.net/sites/default/files/field/image/invention-wheel-sumerian.jpg
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_road_transport

9.  But also they were used in battles.
 http://factsanddetails.com/media/2/20120208-AssyrianCart.PNG
 http://factsanddetails.com/media/2/20120216-Chariotd_Verldshistoria_band_I_Ill_014.jpg
 https://sites.google.com/site/ancientsumerians/_/rsrc/1317834862680/transportation/ston
e-age%20wheel.JPG
 http://periklisdeligiannis.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/chariot.jpg

10. Long-distance ships in Polynesia
The Voyaging Canoe
The Polynesians' primary voyaging craft was the
double canoe with sails and a steering paddle that
was capable of carrying heavy loads whether they
were families and their belongings or equipment.
A medium-size voyaging canoe 50 to 60 feet long
could carry approximately 20 or more migrants,
their supplies, animals, and planting materials.
http://www.pbs.org/wayfinders/polynesian2.html

11.  Around 1500 BC because of migration and
long distances they created an excellent
navigation system that followed the stars,
the ocean swells, the flights of birds and
other natural phenomena that guided
them in their journey.
 So they developed new technologies, they
used what they knew (about farming and
domesticated animals) and they created
great navigation skills to sail in the ocean.
 http://www.pbs.org/wayfinders/polynesian2.html
 http://www.inotos.gr/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/tetartides.jpg
 https://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/system/images/images/000/000/686/original/Waka-in-
ocean-swell20160110-1474-1bbefh3.jpg?1452400922

12. State-built roads
 It is believed that the first state built road was in Egypt during the rule of Pharaoh
Cheops and it was 1,000 yards long and 60 feet wide that led to the site of the
Great Pyramid.
 In about 2000 BC, the Minoans built a 50 km paved road from Knossos in northern
Crete through the mountains to Gortyn and Lebena.
 The best concerning the construction of roads were the Romans. They
constructed a great network of roads in almost all of Europe. These roads were
the most complicated roads until the 19th century.
 These roads were so important because people were able to travel from one area
to another very quickly and also goods were transported from the source to the
market outlet.
 Moreover they were very useful to soldiers because there was a need for armies
to be able to travel quickly from one area to another.
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_road_transport
 http://www.triplenine.org/Vidya/OtherArticles/ABriefHistoryofRoadBuilding.aspx
 http://cdn.history.com/sites/2/2015/03/lists-8-reasons-roads-helped-rome-rule-the-ancient-world-2-E.jpeg

13. http://www.crystalinks.com/RomeRoads4.jpg

14. Canals
 Canals are human-made channels for water supply, or to
service transport via vessels.
 Canal usage became more common during the 1st millennium
BC.
 The canals first appeared in Egypt, especially along the Nile.
Also there were some in Mesopotamia. China had a lot of
canals around 1000 BC.
 Moreover, many canals for water supplying were built in
many cities during the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire's
Aqueducts are well known water canals.
 http://www.encyclopedia.com/science/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/building-canals-ancient-world
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canal#Ancient_canals

15.  The construction of canals that offer water in cities was a
great invention because, people in cities could have access to
water.
 Also, canals helped in the increasing of trade and
transportation through a country. Furthermore many new
towns were built near the canals. So it helped the economy
of a place.
 https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/5f/07/33/5f07339889deaebbf017c5472a5ac845.jpg
 https://100falcons.files.wordpress.com/2008/07/aqueduct-segovia.jpg

16. http://cdn.zmescience.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/storyboardslide-a60004fe-8b62-40b7-bf2e-1776f4837182.jpg

17. Coinage
 Before coins people traded for what they wanted. This was
called Barter.
 Coins were used for the first time as a method of payment
around 6th and 5th centuries BC.
 The first coins were made in Aegina around 700 BC , in Lydia in
Asia Minor or in Phrygia by Demodike of Kyrme, the wife of
King Midas.
 The first coins were made of electrum, an alloy of silver and
gold.
 On the coins were pictures of kings, gods or animals.
 So all people started to use coins in their everyday life. The
invention of coins was of great importance because they were
accepted as money by others, they had a particular value, they
could be carried easily, they were hard metal and therefore
could last for centuries.
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_coins
 http://www.ancient.eu/coinage/

18. Ancient Miletos
http://www.ancient.eu/image/817/
http://oldestcoins.reidgold.com/Lydian_trite_15_o.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/98/Aegina_Stater_achaic.jpg
Lydian electrum trite
Ancient Aegina
Ancient Athens

19. The Digital era
https://media.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/AAEAAQAAAAAAAAUxAAAAJGM4Y2ZhNDM2LWE0Mj
YtNDY3NS04MzBhLWEyY2JmZGVmMjU5Yg.jpg
http://images.atelier.net/sites/default/files/imagecache/scale_crop_587_310/articles/41
6234/atelier-post-digital-era.png
•The Digital era dates from the late 20th century to the early 21st century.
We live in this era. During these years many changes have happened
and technology has been greatly improved. Some of these changes are
the internet, the social media, biotechnology, genetic engineering and
many others. They have improved our lives in many ways but they also
have a negative impact on our lives.

20. http://www.aeldata.com/uploads/digital_era.png

21. Definition of the Internet
 The Internet is the global system of interconnected
computer networks that use the Internet protocol suite
(TCP/IP) to link devices worldwide. It is a network of
networks that consists of private, public, academic,
business, and government networks of local to global
scope, linked by a broad array of electronic, wireless,
and optical networking technologies. The Internet
carries an extensive range of information resources and
services.
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet

22.  The internet has given access to much information.
Everyone has a great variety of information. However
some of this information might be false, and we shouldn't
trust everything.
 Also, another benefit is that we can easy buy things from
the internet.
 We can send emails, and also communicate with other
people through social media( facebook, instagram,
viber,etc).
 We can entertain ourselves by watching videos, listening
to music, or playing games.
 https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1b/Facebook_icon.svg/2000px-Facebook_icon.svg.png
 http://www.rizopoulospost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/instagram-logo.jpg
 https://s3.amazonaws.com/ionic-marketplace/ionic_viber_clone/icon.png
 http://www.iconarchive.com/download/i67995/marcus-roberto/google-play/YouTube.ico
 https://thumbs.dreamstime.com/z/internet-business-series-businessman-accessing-information-technology-via-tablet-gadget-his-hand-
43295881.jpg
 http://debatewise.org/debates/3033-internet-brings-more-harm-than-good/

23. However there are some drawbacks.
 Many people are addicted to the internet and they spend a
lot of time in front of the screen.
 Some people can steal our passwords or other documents.
They can also post our photos on some sites to embarrass
us. Others may have fake profiles to hurt people.
 http://nstatic.tanea.gr/FACEBOOK_FAKE_PROFILE.limghandler.jpg?i=aT1maWxlcyUyZm9sZHRhbmVhJTJmZmlsZXMlMmYxJTJmbWV
kaWElMmYyMDEyJTJmMDklMmYxNCUyZmZhY2Vib29rK2Zha2UrcHJvZmlsZS5qcGcmdz02NjAmaD0zNzYmc3Q9dHJ1ZSZiZz0xNjc3NzI
xNSZjcj10cnVlJmF0PTQ%3D

25. The Smartphone
 These decades phones with special abilities have been invented. They offer
us access to the internet and social media. Also we can take photos, play
games, listen to music, watch videos, have a GPS to find the way to a place
and communicate with our friends.
 Although they have such benefits, there are some disadvantages. Especially
young people use their cell-phones all the time, everywhere they are and
so they become isolated, lonely and addicted to their smartphones, which
also harm their health.
 http://www.healthpress.gr/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Cell-Phone-addictions-e1354300548237.jpg
 http://news247.gr/eidiseis/psixagogia/humor/article3457497.ece/BINARY/w660/oktw.jpg

26. Genetic Engineering (definition)
 Genetic engineering, also called genetic modification, is the direct
manipulation of an organism's genome using biotechnology. In
genetic engineering they try to make new improved organisms. So
scientists take a part of the DNA (a gene with a specific ability)from
one organism and they put it into another organism’s DNA, in order
to create a new ability. An organism that is genetically engineered is
called a genetically modified organism (GMO). Examples of these
organisms are some plants and also some bacteria. But there are
also some other GMO animals, such as cows and lambs.
 It has many positive aspects because with Genetic Engineering we
can improve the organisms and give them new, useful abilities. It is
also used for making some medicines such as insulin that is
produced using some bacteria (in which we have put in a human
gene). Genetic engineering is also used for gene therapies by
replacing defective genes with effective ones. Bacteria were the first
organisms to be genetically modified.
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genetic_engineering
 http://agbiosafety.unl.edu/basic_genetics.shtml

27.  This is not without negative criticism. It is believed that it is wrong
because we shouldn’t interfere with nature and therefore it is
unethical.
 There are also ecological and economic concerns and moreover it is
in doubt if GMO foods are safe to be eaten.
https://www.google.gr/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwim7O3c2IvTAhWEvRQKHW7HABwQjRwIBw&url=htt
p%3A%2F%2Fwww.nutritionsecrets.com%2Fare-gmo-foods-really-the-enemy%2F&bvm=bv.151426398,d.d24&psig=AFQjCNHU082rQz3I8EZHZg0n09
http://cdns.yournewswire.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/GMO-animals-696x337.jpg
http://cdn-blogs.tribune.com.pk/2014/11/24736-genetic-1417251298-120-640x480.jpg

28. The Definition of Biotechnology
and its uses
 Biotechnology is the use of living systems and organisms to develop or
make products, or "any technological application that uses biological
systems, living organisms, or derivatives thereof, to make or modify
products or processes for specific use“. Depending on the tools and
applications, it often overlaps with the (related) fields of bioengineering,
biomedical engineering, biomanufacturing, molecular engineering, etc.
 In our days there are many biotechnology products and vaccines
 Biotech is used for generating treatments for certain diseases in order to
save thousand of lives.
 It is used also for the environment such as reducing the greenhouse effect.
It helps to reduce the use of petrochemicals and to improve the
manufacturing process efficiency, etc.
 It is very important to have larger amounts of crops without the use of
chemicals and produce foods free of allergens and toxins.
 https://www.bio.org/what-biotechnology
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biotechnology

29.  https://media.licdn.com/mpr/mpr/AAEAAQAAAAAAAADUAAAAJGM4Y2I4M2FiLWJmMGMtNDA2MC1iNTEyLWU5YjkzNzQxMGM0N
Q.jpg