How prehistoric forests fueled the rise of modern industry
In short: The Industrial Revolution did not begin with the steam engine; its roots reach back into the deep history of soil enrichment and ancient forests. This video explores the long-term ecological connection between prehistoric landscapes and modern technology.
The transition to modern industry and warfare is linked to the natural processes that enrich soil, beginning with prehistoric forests. Humans have fundamentally altered the European landscape since the mid-Holocene by clearing forests to create cropland, pasture, and fuel wood.
Recent research uses population history and land suitability models to map three millennia of deforestation across Europe. By understanding these ancient land-use patterns, researchers can better estimate how prehistoric human activity influenced continental-scale carbon and water cycles.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Relationship between Prehistoric Forests and The Industrial Revolution | Deep Time History
- Also: The prehistoric and preindustrial deforestation of Europe
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