Chapter 9 - The Agrarian's Matrix
Changes in the matrix happen because of changes in one of two
things, changes in the knowledge base and/or changes in the
environment. The changes will be more dramatic and far reaching, the
greater the change in these two factors. It has been said that
perhaps the largest step in the ascent of man was from the nomad to
village agriculture. This change becomes evident in the Biblical
city of Jericho. This is where the change in the environment leads
to a dramatic change in the Matrix. The turning point in the
pre-agrarian or hunter/gather matrix came about from a small but
dramatic change in the environment. It was a change in a plant that
changed the matrix and thus changed the way of life for mankind. The
change came about in around 8000 BC. (1)
The change in the environment that brought about the changes in
the matrix was the introduction of a new breed of wheat. Before this
time wheat existed as merely one of many wild grasses that the winds
had spread over the fertile lands of the Middle East. It existed as
thinly shafted grass stems that had light seeds that were randomly
spread by the wind. People harvested wheat but did not know how to
plant it. It was after the last Ice Age, that a genetic combination
between the wild wheat of Jericho crossed with a natural goat grass
and formed a hybrid. This new wheat was much fuller and plumper
called Emmer.
Emmer crossed again with goat grass and doubled the amount of
chromosomes of the goat grass, creating forty-two-chromosome bread
wheat. The new wheat didnt spread with the blowing of the wind; the
ears of the plant were too tight. This change was very useful.
Unlike the earlier wheat plants these seeds could be saved, then
broken open and planted where man decided. Mans ability to matrix
this new opportunity within the environment gave control to a new
matrix. Man learned that the seeds could be scattered, stored and
cultivated where ever and whenever he needed in order to survive.
This new environment gave way to the development of a new matrix.
A new technology evolved within it every bit as cutting edge to them
as the new age matrix of today is to us. Tools were created based
upon this new matrix. The wheat grinding stone, bricks, the needle,
the awl, the pot, the spade, the nail, and a hundred more slowly
moved this new matrix forward. Each new device, enlarging the power
of the rest, improved upon the past devise, allowing man to move
closer to a god-like state. Jericho, the oasis, changed the matrix
from search and distribute, to stay, plant and grow. The idea of
cultivate versus find was added to the picture.
Because it now was possible for man to settle, wherever there was
ground able to provide bread, the grand matrix was undergoing
significant change. The environment controls the matrix. The
cultivation process was a major environmental change. Not only were
the changes effecting the aspects of life directly related to food
production, all levels of the matrix became forced into change.
There were new responsibilities to tend crops. New tools to provide
for their growth were needed. Whole new avenues of thinking sprang
up as though man now realized that he was stationed above the plants
and animals. New social systems to support these efforts were
created. Homes could become a haven for a safe and secure
environment. This one aspect of life, cultivation, caused a
tremendous wave throughout the then current society.
As you can imagine, the matrix was continually changing, even in
prehistoric times. During some periods of our history the changes
occur rapidly as during the industrial matrix, and some changes
occur slowly as during the agrarian matrix. Each Matrix is an
evolution of the previous Matrices. A new matrix does not preclude
the old ones, it instead includes them, and slowly excludes them as
they become no longer useful.
As each new matrix is formed, with it new questions are presented
which can move the matrix forward again. When these questions are
answered, not only is the knowledge base increased, and the matrix
moved forward; the plane of thinking is increased. Meaning that new
ways of solving problems are formed; new systems are discovered
within the new matrix. Those wishing to survive within an old matrix
will find themselves stagnant, not moving forward toward the
god-like state or clashing against the new matrix.
The first wars were actually a clash of these two matrixes, the
old and the new formed during the agrarian age. The new matrix
provided a surplus which was visible to a find, take and distribute
mentality. When the nomads came out of the desert to rob the
harvesters of their wheat, the organized theft, which we today call
war, was invented. However, struggle against a matrix is futile.
Genghis Khan and his Mongol dynasty eventually became the very
Muslims that they conquered because the way of life (the matrix) was
closer to the god-like state. Even though the Mongol hordes may have
won the battles, the agrarian matrix won the war; the settlements
were victors over nomadacy. The new matrix was just an easier more
advanced way to live.
Today ten thousand years later, we can still see how a clash
between an old matrix and new can lead to war between haves and
have-nots. As leaders of countries such as Iraq, are pulled into the
modern matrix, taking the visible surplus of ones neighbor may have
appeared to be a viable matrix. However, we have also seen that a
new matrix for war had formed as well. This became evident when the
modern war matrix clashed against the previous war matrix in the
gulf war, leaving annihilation in its wake.
Matrixing:
Chapter 10
Matrixing:
Chapter 11
