TECHNOLOGY
While rules on sharing art, music, literature, natural history and the like were relatively lax, on Earth, a quorum in the Senate was required to share technology. The result of this law made it so most technology that was shared was antiquated, with the exception of technologies that allowed Ahkamians to bypass fossil fuels and steer them towards sustainability.
Solar powered planes, cars, bullet trains and other technologies were carefully shared, yet no fuel was known on Ahkam that could launch something out of their atmosphere. Earthing’s ability to travel through space and controllably land on their planet left them spellbound and created a lot of the angst that lead to differing political opinions of what the future would hold for them.
Solar, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal and other renewable energies are technologies that Earthlings gave the Ahkamians, intending them to bypass an industrial revolution. Earth’s leading scientists and politicians felt that it was their responsibility to protect Ahkam from facing the same demons that had destroyed Earth’s ability to sustain life. Use of fossil fuels and the industrial revolution were the pandora’s box, that once opened, they were never able to fully close.
IRON AS A VALUABLE RESORCE
Iron is in nearly all of Earth’s technology: It is in computers, railroads, cars, planes and weapons. Without iron Earth’s modern technological society would not exist.
The technology that was shared with Ahkamians took for granted that iron was plentiful. It was not.
The Iron Mountains hold the largest deposits of iron, technology’s most precious resource. Located in the harsh climate of the north, they are not easily reached. The limited supply and high cost of mining, created a barrier to technological development on Ahkam, leading to a rift between the haves and have-nots. Earth was already far more advanced, as evidenced by the Golden Record. Ahkamians became the students, never surpass their masters, for they relied entirely on technology that was given to them. There was a significant imbalance between the two worlds.
Because of this disparity, and to alleviate fear, it was agreed that no technology would be brought to Ahkam. Earthlings would not be allowed possessions and would be given cloths upon arrival.