The default state of the world is poverty & war

Modern humans, especially those in developed countries, seem to believe that the Earth is inherently peaceful and bountiful. In this version of history, humankind has somehow strayed from its profound oneness with nature, disrupting the delicate symbiosis once shared with the Earth, sun, and the natural forces that sustain life. Rather than living in harmony with these elements, we’ve distanced ourselves from the rhythms of the natural world, forgetting that our survival is deeply intertwined with it.

This is fiction.

The reality is quite the opposite. Before inside (among other things) was invented — all human beings were constantly at war. At war with the elements, struggling against predators, droughts, disease, and death.

Noah Smith’s “The Elemental Foe” is my favourite article on the matter.