NATS 1510 Lecture Notes - Lecture 3: Karl August Wittfogel, Indus River, Coevolution
1 Nov 2015
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Nats 1510 lecture 3 anthropomorphic extinctions in the late. Causes of extinction, removal of habitat, predators. Many large mammals became extinct in the last 50 000 years ( near time , quarternary period) Approximately half of 200 genera of large mammals (100 lb +) lost. Almost all extinctions of wild animals in last 50,000 anthropogenic. Extinction not only recent, not solely due to advanced science or technology. Human migration to new continents, islands, large and small mammals and birds. Overkill thesis, excessive predation, introduction of predators, competitors and disease vectors. Radio-carbon dating, precise estimation of extinction dates. Radio-carbon dating within a few hundred years, sudden or gradual extinction. No direct evidence for human hunting 50,000 years ago. Africa and eurasia, co-evolution and fewer extinctions. Responsibility of ancient peoples for extinctions, global involvement. Realistic idea of human impact, sympathy with large mammals. Tool use for hunting and gathering (2 million years ago)
