2 posts tagged “cities”

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Key Fact #2: 10,000 B.C.

Feb 28, 2008
2 comments

I am enthusiastically waiting for the opening of the movie 10,000 BC, which is to be on March 7th. Just a week. But I am also curious to see to what extent the movie mirrors known facts or best guesses about human physical and social development.

A fact that I have long carried in my head is that the origin of agriculture was about 10,000 years ago. I guess 10,000 years BC (as in the movie's title) would be about 12,000 years ago.

So a movie with the title 10,000 BC really shouldn't show much in the way of extensive farming. And without farming there can be no major settlements, no cities. And without cities there can be no state, no real ruling class. Anyhow, that is my understanding.

10t2

But the film's previews and publicity stills seem to show a lot more than rudimentary urban development. So, I guess that is an "error." Still might be a good movie, though.

A show I watched recently on the National Geographic Channel suggested that the "first man," the single male from which all contemporary males are descended, lived about 50,000 years ago (in what is now Kenya). So that is the beginning of getting a time scale:

--us (complete with blogging capabilities!)

--Christ, about 2000 years ago

--agriculture invented, 10,000 years ago

--male of origin, 50,000 years ago.

What city do I belong in?

Dec 18, 2007
4 comments

I belong in Amsterdam

I took a quiz on-line at blogthings, as I have seen others here on Vox do, and it indicated that, of European cities, I belong best in Amsterdam. And of American cities, I am most similar to Austin, Texas.

Austin

So those are interesting results! I have been in Austin briefly (and liked it for the music and the technology and the university). But I have never been in Europe at all. Now I have a recommendation--although the place we are actually going in Spring 2008 is London, Oxford, and Ireland, not Amsterdam.

Beyond that, is there a suggestion that Austin and Amsterdam are somehow rather similar (since they both fit my own profile?) Perhaps. Worth investigating.

Where I have long wanted to go is not Europe at all, but China. What Chinese city might I like best? Probably I can only manage one trip. Re "Things to Do Before You Die." I would welcome any suggestions!

The Asian city I've visited and I really liked was Kyoto, as well as nearby Nara. They are "old fashioned" and "modern" I would not say "totally weird" though. But historical and "artistic."

Is Kyoto similar to Amsterdam similar to Austin?