Thermodynamics and civilization: from ancient rivers to fossil fuel energy servants

Civilization can be at least partially determined by climatic constraints upon net primary productivity and heat dissipation from the human body (Kleidon 2009). I discuss how these “metabolic” limitations were historically overcome: first, because large rivers in dry regions provided water to ancient civilizations; second, because fossil fuel energy servants working externally to muscle-limited bodies have produced economic well-being in a number of world areas.