ABSTRACT
The history of human societies can generally be characterized by an everincreasing pattern of energy use. As societies transition from hunting and gathering organizations to primitive and advanced agriculture, and then on to industrial and technological ones, they tend to engage in more energy-intensive forms of production. However, even as our overall energy consumption grows, we have found ways of performing the same activities more efficiently (often, as far as the time input is concerned, but occasionally reducing energy inputs as well), thereby freeing up time and other resources needed to contemplate and devise more sophisticated and elaborate activities in which to engage.
