Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind

The Cognitive Revolution, The Agricultural Revolution, and the Unification of Humankind Imagine the world 70,000 years ago. Humans were just one of many animal species, living in small groups, hunting and gathering for food. They were clever, sure, but not much different from chimpanzees or crows in terms of their overall impact on the planet. Then, something amazing happened: the Cognitive Revolution. This wasn't a sudden change like flipping a switch, but a gradual shift in our brains that allowed us to think in completely new ways. Think of it like this: before the Cognitive Revolution, our brains were like simple computers, capable of basic calculations. After the revolution, they became supercomputers, capable of complex thinking, planning, and communication. This “upgrade” allowed us to do things no other animal could. We developed language – not just simple grunts and gestures, but the ability to tell elaborate stories, share complex ideas, and pass down knowledge from one generation to the next. This ability to communicate complex ideas is what allowed us to create things like myths. Myths aren't just made-up stories; they're shared beliefs that unite large groups of people. Think about stories like the story of Santa Claus, or superheroes, or even national legends: these are all myths that bring people together, shaping their behavior and beliefs. Before the Cognitive Revolution, humans likely only had small, shared beliefs within their immediate groups. But with the power of language, we could create much larger shared beliefs that united entire tribes or even nations. This ability to believe in shared myths, even if they're not literally true, is what allowed humans to cooperate on a massive scale. This cooperation, fueled by shared myths, led to the next big change: the Agricultural Revolution, which started around 10,000 years ago. Before agriculture, humans were nomadic – constantly moving from place to place in search of food. But then, some clever humans figured out they could grow their own food. Imagine the impact! Instead of constantly hunting and gathering, they could settle in one place, cultivate crops, and raise animals. This sounds great, right? More food, less work, more leisure time? Not exactly. The Agricultural Revolution was a double-edged sword. While it provided a more reliable food supply, it also meant a lot more hard work. Farming is incredibly labor-intensive. Imagine spending hours each day planting, weeding, and harvesting crops – in the scorching sun or pouring rain. It also meant a less varied diet, relying heavily on a few staple crops. This led to nutritional deficiencies and new diseases. In fact, many scientists believe that the average farmer actually worked *harder* and had a *less healthy* life than the average hunter-gatherer. But the Agricultural Revolution had a massive impact on human society. Because humans could now produce more food than they needed to survive, populations exploded. This led to the creation of villages, then towns, then cities. And as populations grew, humans needed ways to organize themselves. This is how empires and civilizations began to emerge. Think of the ancient Egyptians building the pyramids, or the Romans building their vast empire – these were feats of human cooperation and organization that were only possible because of the Agricultural Revolution and the surplus of food it provided. The ability to produce more food also led to specialization. Not everyone had to be a farmer. Some people could become artisans, craftsmen, priests, or soldiers. This division of labor further boosted productivity and fueled the growth of complex societies. Suddenly, humans weren't just surviving; they were building empires, creating art, writing books, and developing complex technologies. We can see the power of shared myths in this process, too. The idea of a unified kingdom, a shared religion, or a common language helped unite diverse groups of people under a single banner. These shared beliefs allowed for greater cooperation and the building of larger, more powerful societies. The unification of humankind is a story of ever-expanding cooperation, enabled by our cognitive abilities and the shared myths that bind us together.