Energy Agents of the West
Class
Article
Department
History
Faculty Mentor
Chris Conte
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Abstract
The domestication of Canis lupus familiaris (modern domesticated dog) was initiated using energy. Homo sapiens (modern human) first harvested this energy, along with their own, to found and settle the early Americas. From our species' first journey over the Bering Land Bridge to the modern cross country trip, the dog has worked alongside humans for hundreds of years. With every journey, the dog has experienced the same hardships as his human counterpart. The story of the early Americas and eventually the settlement of the United States West is a shared story between domestic New World dogs and the human race. It is a story of their entwined energy histories. Canine domestication and the development of human societies are inextricably entwined. Modern domestic dogs and Homo sapiens share a bond in which each plays a vital role in the survival of the other. Dogs have provided energy to humans in many ways. They have fed humans through sacrifice and hunting and have provided transportation for household goods, children, and the elderly. As human societies evolved, the role of the dog as a source of energy has changed. The species itself has evolved to recognize human energy in terms of movement, are able to recognize movement patters, and predict them. It is necessary to evaluate the role the species played in the colonization of the US West and how this role has evolved as human societies have changed for it is through understanding their energy history that we can come to understand our own history.
Start Date
4-9-2015 9:00 AM
Energy Agents of the West
The domestication of Canis lupus familiaris (modern domesticated dog) was initiated using energy. Homo sapiens (modern human) first harvested this energy, along with their own, to found and settle the early Americas. From our species' first journey over the Bering Land Bridge to the modern cross country trip, the dog has worked alongside humans for hundreds of years. With every journey, the dog has experienced the same hardships as his human counterpart. The story of the early Americas and eventually the settlement of the United States West is a shared story between domestic New World dogs and the human race. It is a story of their entwined energy histories. Canine domestication and the development of human societies are inextricably entwined. Modern domestic dogs and Homo sapiens share a bond in which each plays a vital role in the survival of the other. Dogs have provided energy to humans in many ways. They have fed humans through sacrifice and hunting and have provided transportation for household goods, children, and the elderly. As human societies evolved, the role of the dog as a source of energy has changed. The species itself has evolved to recognize human energy in terms of movement, are able to recognize movement patters, and predict them. It is necessary to evaluate the role the species played in the colonization of the US West and how this role has evolved as human societies have changed for it is through understanding their energy history that we can come to understand our own history.