TY - JOUR
T1 - Historical trends in global energy consumption
AU - Mattick, Carolyn
AU - Williams, Eric
AU - Allenby, Braden
PY - 2010/9
Y1 - 2010/9
N2 - In 1976, geologist Earl Cook observed that, Throughout history there has been a fairly close correlation between the forms and amount of energy available to man, the forms of his society, and the size of his communities [1]. Cook is not alone in his view. In 1943, anthropologist Leslie White stated what he called the law of cultural evolution. Simply put, other things being equal, the degree of cultural development varies in correlation with the amount of energy harnessed per capita per year and/or the efficiency with which useful work is extracted from it [2].
AB - In 1976, geologist Earl Cook observed that, Throughout history there has been a fairly close correlation between the forms and amount of energy available to man, the forms of his society, and the size of his communities [1]. Cook is not alone in his view. In 1943, anthropologist Leslie White stated what he called the law of cultural evolution. Simply put, other things being equal, the degree of cultural development varies in correlation with the amount of energy harnessed per capita per year and/or the efficiency with which useful work is extracted from it [2].
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U2 - 10.1109/MTS.2010.938106
DO - 10.1109/MTS.2010.938106
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:77956710798
SN - 0278-0097
VL - 29
SP - 22
EP - 30
JO - IEEE Technology and Society Magazine
JF - IEEE Technology and Society Magazine
IS - 3
M1 - 5571929
ER -