Has the rise and fall of civilisation been influenced by the availability of fossil fuels throughout the ages?

Question

For example, are we heading towards another decline in our population since our energy supplies are not quite as abundent as they were at the beginning of the 19th century? Did our predecessors simply run out of time to replace their sources of energy with nuclear fusion power stations before their supplies of fossil fuels ran out?

When I speak of predecessors I mean those civilisations, which were meant to have existed prior to the Ancient Greeks and the Egyptians, and who are meant to have been as advanced (or almost as advanced) as we are today.

I read in the news today that a proposal for a fusion-powered nuclear reactor has been made and the proposed location of this facility, which would convert seawater into fuel, is Cadarache in France. However this power station may not be completed until 2040 at the earliest. It has been predicted that we have enough fossil fuels to last us for only the next 2 decades. Perhaps our predecessors had similar problems as we face today?

Don't believe there were other civilisations as advanced as we are today? Forget what you have learned in History lessons and open you mind to other ideas. If you haven't already, you should read Graham Hancock's work on ancient civilisations. Here is an introduction to his work: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graham_Hancock

Answer 1

Its undoubtedly a reason for civilisations to have flourished or declined. Our civilisation has the technolgy and knowledge to make things slightly more in our favour though...;

Answer 2

The availability of fossil fuels will be one of the factor. However, I think that the secondary factor - greenhouse gases that is produce to by burning fossil fuels may be just as influential - this will apply to this civilisation that we are living in. I'm not sure about the previous one - perhaps a disease that nobody can cure, natural disaster (I don't know sufficent to comment!)

There are plenty of other energy sources that is available. However, I don't think they are cost effective enough (or perhpas business cannot make enough profit out of it) to turn into in a major energy supplying source. The thought of running out resources to create energy is frightening as we live in a energy craved society. How did the people live in the past?

Answer 3

That's an interesting thought. But I think in broader terms, not just fossil fuels.

Easter Island was supposedly a prosperous and creative place (the Maoi are proof) until -- it's theorized anyway -- the people ran out of all resources (food, fuel, means to create shelter).

Answer 4

Abundant fuel is always available to societies that encourage the development of the few geniuses who can discover and develop what is just sitting there unnoticed by the vast majority of mankind and the inferior people put into power. In our society, potential development and inventions are lost because High IQs are humiliated and not invested in until they have destroyed their personal lives through self-sacrifice. Even those who submit to being treated like freaks, living like 12-year-olds working without pay in college, and getting their patents entirely stolen by their low-IQ employers subconsciously resent all this and block their creativity or escape into childish self-indulgence.

Answer 5

In historic circumstances there have been no real fossil fuels for potential. The forests have been, in opposite, the source of potential - and all of us be attentive to what has passed off in Mediterranean countires. the version exchange into, of direction, the plenty smaller prefer for potential in those circumstances. Coal exchange into the 1st source of potential which exchange into waiting for its consumer. The technical achievements on those days (until the tip of 1800) have been so minor (no autos yet!) that only close by issues arose, i assume. we are so based on potential in the present day that it instruments rules for our living. We even have wars to maintain our grant of fossil potential. success adequate, further and further every person is attentive to this dependence and attempt to sparkling up it. Why we, definitely, need plenty potential? In Scandinavia, we've very chilly iciness (even under -40oC!) and could heat our properties. Distances to amenities in much less populated international locations is additionally very long (in Northern Lappland you may ought to rigidity 1000's of kilometers to bypass on your physician). there is confident prefer of potential for living in those circumstances. If people could have an contract to construct up close by aspects with a hundred 000 voters interior a reasonably small geographical circle, the prefer for inner maximum site visitors could be prevented. There additionally are human activities that are extremely pointless potential consumers (wars!) and could be prevented. we ought to watch for apply organic activities to capture potential: photograph voltaic radiation, wind, wawes..however the subject is that those selections are nonetheless small and local ones. possibly a potential plant, in the direction of a sea, with extensive windmills - or a wawe potential plant on a shore sooner or later? i'm nonetheless a pessimist: people tend to do clever judgements basically while issues have long previous very incorrect and no different probability is available...

Answer 6

They are facing troubles with energy so they are started on looking for new ways for energy. When we start needing something we've had you'd be surprised how fast we can figure out a way to fix it. They are just waiting for fossil fuels to run out so they can make some extra cash. Money makes things happen.

Answer 7

Im not sure if those previous civilisations existed, but I agree, we are highly dependent on oil for so many things and im sure our population will decline when it runs out if we don't find an alternative.

Answer 8

The simple answer....NO! Fossil fuels are a modern problem. The lack of fossil fuels had absolutely zero impact on our ancestors. Populations never reached that critical stage. We have. Why? Because we are stupid, greedy, inconsiderate, and shortsighted little shits!

Answer 9

I don't think so. There were civilizations before coal and oil were discovered and, if we ever come to our senses, we will find more advanced energy sources to keep civilization going. If we keep up our dependency on them, however, we are certainly doomed.

Answer 10

It appears that way, based on our scope of historical civilizations. But who knows what it was before our scope of history. Or yet to come!