unSILOed with Greg LaBlanc

479. The Birth of Civilizations: Unpacking a 4,000-Year Global History feat. Josephine Quinn

Nov 11, 2024
Josephine Quinn, a Professor of Ancient History at the University of Oxford and author, shares her insights on the evolution of civilization over 4,000 years. She unpacks how civilizations intertwined through war, trade, and cultural exchanges, challenging our modern perceptions. Discover how the Crusades influenced our current sugar habits and the significant impact of the Phoenicians on language and trade, shaping the very fabric of modern society. Quinn's discussion not only highlights historical complexities but also critiques the simplistic views of civilization.
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INSIGHT

Modern Civilization Concept

  • The noun "civilization" is a modern concept, not used before the mid-18th century.
  • The plural "civilizations" emerged even later, in the late 1820s.
INSIGHT

Civilizations and Races

  • The concept of "civilizations" developed alongside the concept of "races" in the plural.
  • Both concepts categorize and organize the world, by culture and biology, respectively.
INSIGHT

War and Communication

  • War is an effective form of communication between peoples and depends on a fundamental notion of similarity.
  • Around 1500, European expansion marked a radical change, creating an "us vs. them" dynamic globally.
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