Human Development: Historical Eras and Economic Foundations
Prehistory: Dawn of Humanity
Prehistory encompasses the period from the appearance of humanity until the first written records. Knowledge of this era comes from human skeletal remains, discovered tools, remnants of housing, and artistic creations. Humans appeared approximately 2 million years ago and made crucial discoveries, notably controlling fire and domesticating animals.
Paleolithic Period: Nomadic Life
During the Paleolithic period, humans were nomadic. They lived near rivers, subsisting on fishing, hunting, and gathering fruits. They slept outdoors during warm periods and sought shelter in caves or natural formations during cold periods. They began using fire for warmth, cooking, and defense. They crafted stone tools through chipping and percussion and created cave paintings depicting hunting scenes or animals.
Neolithic Period: Settled Life Begins
In the Neolithic period, people began building permanent dwellings and grouping into villages. They learned to cultivate crops (agriculture) and developed new skills like carpentry, ceramics, and textiles. This era saw the birth of architecture, with the construction of megalithic structures like menhirs and dolmens, likely for religious purposes.
The Age of Metals: Bronze and Beyond
The Age of Metals began with the use of copper. Later, the alloy of copper and tin produced bronze. These advancements led to significant changes in economic and social organization.
Castrexo Culture in Galicia
The Castrexo Culture developed in Galicia. Fortified settlements, known as castros, were strategically located in easily defensible positions across the region. The inhabitants of the castros were a mix of diverse populations, including people from the preceding Bronze Age and Celtic groups migrating across Europe.
Castrexo Economic Activities
- Gathering acorns (landra) for making bread.
- Cultivating beans (fabas) and chickpeas (chicão).
- Raising cattle, pigs, sheep, and goats.
- Mining tin, iron, copper, and gold.
- Practicing metalworking and ceramics.
Castrexo Arts and Customs
- Stone working.
- A reverence or cult associated with water sources and streams.
The Roman Era and Influence
By the first century BCE (Before Common Era), Rome became the dominant power in the Mediterranean. This was due to its strategic geographical location, a strong and disciplined army, and the creation of an extensive and secure communication network (roads). The Roman economy heavily relied on the labor of enslaved people. The lower classes faced significant tax burdens.
Understanding Economic Sectors
Primary Sector: Raw Materials
Production of raw materials from land and sea: includes agriculture, livestock farming, fishing (pesca), and logging.
Secondary Sector: Manufacturing
Processing of raw materials into manufactured goods, and extraction of resources from the subsoil: includes mining, industry, and construction.
Tertiary Sector: Services
Provision of services: includes transport, education, trade, health, administration, and banking.
Primary Sector Challenges
Challenges in regions like Galicia can include:
- High altitude terrains.
- Low and erratic rainfall.
- Rivers difficult to utilize for irrigation.
- Poor soil quality.
- Prevalence of smallholdings (minifundios) and large estates (latifundios).
- Lack of efficient crop management.
- Insufficient investment.
Defining Smallholdings (Minifundio)
Minifundio (Smallholding): A rural property (finca rústica) so small in size that its efficient agricultural exploitation is hindered.
Defining Large Estates (Latifundio)
Latifundio (Large Estate): A large agricultural estate often characterized by the inefficient use of available resources.
Primary Sector Solutions
Potential solutions include:
- Land reform to address latifundios and minifundios.
- Converting dryland farming areas to irrigated land where possible.
- Mechanizing agricultural processes.
- Implementing scientific crop management techniques.
- Developing specialized agricultural and livestock sectors.
Secondary Sector Dynamics
Challenges and strategies include:
- Addressing technological dependence.
- Industrial reconversion.
- Adjusting production levels.
- Introducing new technologies.
- Adapting the workforce size.
Industrial Development in Galicia
Industry in Galicia: Galicia did not fully participate in the main Industrial Revolution during the 19th century, with significant industrial development occurring later, primarily in the 20th century.