- Civilopedia entry:
a) Coca: Khoka was a
divine plant to Inca, it was utilized in religious
ceremonies, as the Sun God sacrifice. This civilization
learned that if you use Coca plus some vegetables, the
hunger or tired sensation passed and it could be used as
anesthesia. In the XIX century, Sigmund Freud and Karl
Köller did the first experiences with Coca in the
Civilized World, introducing this plant in the
medicine, tobacco industry and food ones. Just in the
beginning of the XX century US and the countries around
the Planet forbidden the use of Coca, saying it is an
extremely dangerous drug. Today Coca is produced in same
countries from Latin America, as Colombia and Bolivia
and it is the base of the Cocaine drug.
b) Copper: Evidence of the
use of bronze, an alloy of copper and tin, dates back to
Thailand in 4500 BC. Several hundred years later, bronze
working was discovered in the Middle East.
Artifacts from this period show that bronze was
initially used for decorative purposes only. This is
because tin was not readily available. It wasn't until
approximately 2000 BC, when tin was regularly imported
from neighboring regions, that bronze replaced
copper in the construction of larger items. Bronze was
harder and less brittle than copper, and it held a
sharper edge. Tools, weapons, and armor made from
bronze were also cheaper to produce and more durable.
The period of time when bronze was the metal of
choice for such items was known as the Bronze Age. The
Bronze Age lasted until iron working became prevalent in
approximately 1200 BC.
c) Timber: Wood from forests
was used from the times of early civilization for items
such as wooden clubs, spears and dugout canoes. As stone
tools improved forests could be cut to provide wood for
burning, building and furniture, and when metal tools
were developed this use and cutting of forests increased.
In the Mesopotamia region, cedar from the Lebanon area
was in high demand -- surviving texts from Egypt show
large amounts of it being imported by ship for
shipbuilding, furniture and for use in the Pharaoh's
palace.
Natural
Resources
Coca, Copper and Timber (pack) 