David Graeber on his book "Debt: The First 5,000 Years"

24sd_1678x281.png

KBOO is open to the public! To visit the station, contact your staff person or call 503-231-8032.


Produced by: 
KBOO
Air date: 
Tue, 01/24/2012 - 12:00am
David Graeber on his book "Debt: The First 5,000 Years"

Joe Clement speaks with David Graeber, professor, author and activist, about his book, Debt: The First 5,000 Years. Graeber shows that 5,000 years ago, during the beginning of the agrarian empires, humans have used elaborate credit systems. It is in this era, Graeber shows, that we also first encounter a society divided into debtors and creditors.

With the passage of time, however, virtual credit money was replaced by gold and silver coins—and the system as a whole began to decline. Interest rates spiked and the indebted became slaves. And the system perpetuated itself with tremendously violent consequences, with only the rare intervention of kings and churches keeping the system from spiraling out of control.

David Graeber speaks in Portland, Tuesday January 24th at 8pm, at The Alberta Rose Theatre. The event is presented by Reading Frenzy.

DAVID GRAEBER teaches anthropology at Goldsmiths College, University of London. He is the author of Fragments of an Anarchist Anthropology, Toward an Anthropological Theory of Value, Lost People, and Possibilities: Essays on Hierarchy, Rebellion, and Desire. He has written for Harper's, The Nation, Mute, and The New Left Review.

More information about Debt: The First 5,000 Years is available at Books on KBOO

Topic tags: 

Episode Playlist

  • Time
    12:00
    Artist
    Disney
    Song
    The Enchanted Tiki Room
    Album
    The Enchanted Tiki Room
    Label
    Disneyland Records
  • Time
    12:03
    Artist
    Della Reese
    Song
    Until the end of time
    Album
    Until the end of time
    Label
  • Time
    12:06
    Artist
    Norrie Paramor & His Orchestra
    Song
    Love In A Tower
    Album
    New York Impressions
    Label
    Master Classics Records
  • Time
    12:09
    Artist
    Peter Dawson
    Song
    In a Monastary Garden
    Album
    I Travel the Road
    Label
    Memoir Records
  • Time
    12:13
    Artist
    Paul Weston and His Orchestra
    Song
    Samson And Delilah
    Album
    Love Music From Hollywood (Background Themes From The Screen's Greatest Romances)
    Label
    Hallmark
  • Time
    12:22
    Artist
    Ray Martin
    Song
    Anna
    Album
    Martin Goes Latin
    Label
    SINETONE AMR
  • Time
    12:25
    Artist
    Caterina Valente
    Song
    Moonlight In Vermont
    Album
    Plenty Valente!
    Label
    Hallmark
  • Time
    12:28
    Artist
    Jan August and His Orchestra
    Song
    MISIRLOU
    Album
    100 Martini Lounge Hits
    Label
    Classic Music International
  • Time
    12:31
    Artist
    Al Stephano
    Song
    Melody D Avenue
    Album
    Melody D Avenue
    Label
  • Time
    12:40
    Artist
    The Rhythm Guys Behind Crawler
    Song
    The Magic Islands Of The Sun
    Album
    The Engine - The Rythm Guys Behind Crawler
    Label
    Singing Donkey Records
  • Time
    12:43
    Artist
    Die Hula Hawaiians
    Song
    Hilo-March
    Album
    Song Of The Islands
    Label
    Elite Special
  • Time
    12:46
    Artist
    Deep-Dive-Corp.
    Song
    Bali Hi
    Album
    Chill In Paradise - 25 Lounge & Chillout Tracks
    Label
    Audio Lotion Recordings
  • Time
    12:54
    Artist
    Grooveprofessor
    Song
    La Gaita
    Album
    Chill In Paradise - 25 Lounge & Chillout Tracks
    Label
    Audio Lotion Recordings
  • Time
    1:00
    Artist
    Waikiki Minstrels
    Song
    Hawaii Calls
    Album
    Hawaii Calls
    Label
    Intermusic - X5 Music Group
  • Time
    1:04
    Artist
    50 Guitars of Tommy Garrett
    Song
    Hawaiian War Chant
    Album
    50 Guitars Visit Hawaii
    Label
    Toucan Cove
  • Time
    1:06
    Artist
    Percy Faith
    Song
    A Stranger In Paradise
    Album
    A Stranger In Paradise
    Label
  • Time
    1:09
    Artist
    Ricardo Santos
    Song
    Eliza-Cha-Cha
    Album
    '70s Latin Summer
    Label
    Essential World Classics
  • Time
    1:12
    Artist
    Delaney Davidson
    Song
    Seasons of God
    Album
    Self Decapitation
    Label
    Voodoo Rhythm
  • Time
    1:15
    Artist
    Elisabeth Waldo
    Song
    Land of the Sun Kings
    Album
    Realm of the Incas
    Label
    SINETONE AMR
  • Time
    1:19
    Artist
    Elisabeth Waldo
    Song
    Balsa Boat
    Album
    Realm of the Incas
    Label
    SINETONE AMR
  • Time
    1:23
    Artist
    Peter Westheimer
    Song
    Valley of the Gods
    Album
    Balance
    Label
    Integrity Sound
  • Time
    1:40
    Artist
    Ramsey Lewis & Earth, Wind & Fire
    Song
    Sun Goddess
    Album
    Smooth Jazz Plays Earth, Wind & Fire
    Label
    Shanachie
  • Time
    1:48
    Artist
    Thierry David
    Song
    Moonlight In Cancun
    Album
    Tones & Colours
    Label
    K Vox courtesy of BFM Digital
  • Time
    1:53
    Artist
    Eggtooth
    Song
    Tiki-Tiki Boom-Boom
    Album
    Sundowner
    Label
    Candlebone Records
  • Time
    1:56
    Artist
    Patscan
    Song
    Tiki Champer
    Album
    Muddled Up - EP
    Label
    Concrete Plastic

Audio by Topic: