James Burke : Connections, Episode 1, "The Trigger Effect", 4 of 5 (CC)

[BugsWisely]

once you have surplus food you can feed the ones protecting you.

[jeshika22]

the plow, or irrigation

[blackpanther77777]

nice subliminal at 5:44, like if you know whats up.

[jeremy1000100]

This guy's got it all wrong. Agriculture does not depend on the "invention" of the plough. People had been growing crops (rather than just gathering wild plants) for many centuries before the plough came into being. Indeed the concept of preparing the ground prior to sowing had been going on a long time before the plough with the use of hoes and adze like tools; these are still used today in many parts of the world. The facts have been changed to suit the script not the other way around.

[jaymoe67]

Good seires. For those of you who think that JB comes across as a little smug, I say this, "Can you blame the guy, he's getting paid to research and talk about stuff that he is obviosly passionate about, and would be studying regardless of wether he got paid for it or not, plus he gets to go to many exotic locations in order to execute his duties as host". Way to go Mr. Burke, I commend you, and thank you for passing along the results of reaserch in2 the application of discovery and knowledge.

[sejembalm]

The amazing part of Burke's description of the ancient civilization of Egypt was that the primitive village with the ox-drawn plough, mud huts, and jar making was that it most probably was not a 'prop village.' A lot of these communities in Egypt, Syria, and the like, actually live like their ancestors did 6,000 years ago when agriculture was first invented. A static society.

Talk about being stuck in a rut!

[ChorltonBrook]

@sejembalm It's a job like any other. I've been places like that and the folks are happier than a lot of other places in the world. If you found it a good system why change it? A lot leave for the cities of course but many prefer the village life. This was made years ago now, most have been destroyed by cheap grain imports because of the 'free' market. This ruins the farmers and the village economy and drives poor people to the cities or aid camps to try to survive.

[sejembalm]

@ChorltonBrook Yes, but my point was that these villages were substantially identical to ones from six THOUSAND years ago. And living such a marginal existence as a subsistence farmer is perilous as you produce very little food, much less disposable income, so a bad harvest can bring disaster. Of course, people are free to live as modernly or primitively as they wish, within their limits. I was just amazed HOW primitive those folks were living.

[AutodidacticPhd]

This series always makes me want to play civ. Especially that bit around 5:00

[Jornev]

@AutodidacticPhd Exactly what I was about to post.

[runevirage]

Views on this video: 42,000

Views on Justin Bieber video: 382,000,000

Sigh.

[oker59]

"the oldest stone buiding in the world"? No, the Jericho tower is the oldest stone building 'known.'

[1982CFD]

@oker59 where is that? Is it still here?

[oker59]

@1982CFD

I'm amazed at how hard it is to find anything on this Jericho remains. I havn't found anything on youtube or google searches!(including wiki jericho).

The best I can tell you it seems is that of watching episode 2 of Jacob Bronowski's "Ascent of Man" videos(this episode alone is worth buying the videos!) Or, you could watch the first or second episodes of John Romer's "Testament."

[oker59]

@1982CFD

ope, i finaly tried jericho tower on google searches and finaly found pictures!

[ChorltonBrook]

@oker59 Not officially recognized as so old.

[oker59]

@ChorltonBrook

I've gotten two e-mails; but, i can only find one youtube . . . this one about 'not officially recognized as so old.' I'm not sure what your trying to say(I understand the frustration of using youtube's character limits). Are you saying Malta ruins are older than Jericho?

[ChorltonBrook]

@oker59 Yeah, sorry, I did a bit of Googling and thought better of what I'd written. I didn't realize that the first one wouldn't be cancelled.

[oker59]

@ChorltonBrook

Hello, well, I have known about the Malta ruins; there used to be a "Secrets of the Stone Age" all uploaded on youtube; they're gone now; but, they showed the Malta ruins to me for the first time.  As for which is first, the Malta or Jericho, I suppose I should look at the latest. Well, archaeologists say Jericho goes back to 9000 B.C.

[oker59]

@oker59

Perhaps the question that we're really trying to settle is whether the Jericho tower was built before the Malta people did their great architecture?

[ChorltonBrook]

@oker59 Mmmm, I've been looking further into the Jericho tower thing now since reading your posts. Thanks. I must of been mistaken. BTW wasn't something found under the Black Sea lately as well?

[oker59]

@ChorltonBrook

Hello Charlton,

I havn't heard of any black sea discovery. I'm sure I havn't heard of everything; but, I do check out things like physorg everyday!

Jacob Bronowski in the second episode of his "Ascent of Man" describes the Jericho tower as the ancient pottery at the bottom to the recent iron age on top. I suppose I should check up on that!

[oker59]

@oker59

Hello Charlton, I'm quoting an article here,

"Kathleen Kenyon. She dated it to the pre-pottery Neolithic age, 8,000 to 7,000 BC".

[ChorltonBrook]

@oker59 Funnily enough, I watched 'Secrets ...' last week on 4oD, it's still on that. All I could find about Jericho was years old and by religious archaeological groups, which I took with a pinch of salt. I seem to remember that the date had been discredited.

[ablethevoice]

Yes, Mr Burke is still with us. He's 73 now. There's a great wiki writetup on him.

[abbesieyes]

James Burke, 73...founder of the James Burke Institute and KnowledgeWeb. Fighting the relative ignorance bred of specialization.

[harryshand]

What if your plough breaks?

[yabanciamca]

I have been a Burke fan for years. I really appreciate your posting of his work. I have not seen recent updates on The Knowledge Web project. Do you know if it is still moving? Thanks again.

[sandtoftfield]

Just superb!

[daddyofjames]

Is JB still with us? He must be quite 'mature' if he is. The same way Johnny Ball made maths fun (although I was still rubbish!) JB made science and technology accessible and not only the domain of those with a PhD. A national treasure.

[JamesBurkeWeb]

I'm sure we would've heard something on the news if Mr. Burke had passed on. He's not THAT old! Maybe 70ish.

[DrDopehat]

@JamesBurkeWeb

I know you said this over a year ago..but, I think perhaps the constant inquiry on Mr. Burke's condition has to do with the fact that no matter where you look, its like Mr. Burke vanished off of the face of the earth. Hes gone from a TV personality, great speaker etc, to being nowhere to be found.

We miss him! :(

[champagnerocker]

@JamesBurkeWeb The internet tells me that he is 75 and alive!

[Throwweight]

@daddyofjames Check out k-web.org

[fardelian]

@daddyofjames I know I'm late, but others may wonder. Wikipedia says he's 75 years old, born 22 December 1936.

[rob3c]

"They tried to domesticate any animal they could get their hands on. I mean, take a look at this: animal flat on its back...tie its back legs, hang onto its front legs, stuff food down its throat and hope that it learns to love you...didn't work too well on that one - it's a hyena."

Gotta love Burke :) I especially enjoy the first series. Haven't seen these in years - thanks for posting!

[JamesBurkeWeb]

Haha, I know. It's often quite hilarious.

Also interesting I find, is the way he gently describes the torture of those who don't pay their taxes... not funny, but ironic with it's apparent lack of pity. It's a strange, almost intimate tone of voice he uses but he gets the point across. Starkly.

- JBW

[rob3c]

Yes, the taxes bit was chilling in his matter-of-fact delivery that seemed to parallel the depiction in the hieroglyphs. It's just like he's describing another standard process like agriculture or metalwork :)

[JamesBurkeWeb]

Right. The emotionless tone calls to mind what we think and say now, in our own time, and can not see that what appears to be simply the way things are, as fundamentally wrong.

It's subtle but how else can you bring it into context? It must be stated the way a "market watch" reporter dispassionately notes that the famine in Indonesia has caused a 2% drop in the value of some unknown company's stock value.

- JBW

[Drumspiracy]

The greatest science show EVER. Thank you for posting this. I have seen it several times, and never get tired of Burke.

[JamesBurkeWeb]

Agreed. Fantastic, timeless stuff.

- JBW

[jbabcock88]

Most Excellent shows, I miss them!  Thanks for posting these!

[JamesBurkeWeb]

You're very welcome.

- JBW