Sapiens

Homo sapiens was not the first human species; it existed contemporaneously with at least six other species of humans. It is not clear how the other species became extinct and we spread throughout the globe, but two theories are interbreeding and replacement. Both might be partially true.

Sapiens first evolved around 150,000 years ago and mostly resided in Africa. Around 70,000 years ago, they started building boats, oil lamps, bows and arrows, communities, trade networks, etc. Then they left Africa to war with Neanderthals in the Middle East; they won and eventually drove all other human species from the face of the Earth. Thanks to an accidental genetic mutation that changed our inner wirings and gave us improved ways of thinking, learning, and remembering, an evolutionary leap known as the Cognitive Revolution.

Humans have a unique capacity for language that sets us apart from other species. While animals like bees and chimpanzees communicate, their methods are limited compared to ours. Human language allows us to share complex information and abstract ideas. The ability to share abstract ideas, such as God, human rights, and luxury, has given us a unique advantage, enabling us to dominate the globe and build complex societies.

Homo sapiens lived a nomadic life before the Agricultural Revolution, which happened about 12,000 years ago. In the next 10,000 years, almost all of humankind was settled in agriculture. Even though farming was demanding and difficult, and produced less nutritious food, such as wheat, compared to hunting, it provided a lot more food to sustain a large population, even in worse conditions. This led to an exponential population boom.

Now that humans didn't have to constantly chase the next meal, some people developed trades like blacksmithing and weaving. Then people would barter their goods, e.g., a knife for food. But this barter system was inefficient. So around 3000 BC, the Sumerians of Mesopotamia developed writing and money. They started using barley as money as a standardized method of pay and also started recording the transactions.

As societies and economies grew with trade, they became harder to control and regulate. So humans created laws to regulate how people behaved and a system of authority to make sure they obeyed them. In 1776 BC, Babylon was the world's largest empire, with over a million inhabitants; the king issued laws covering areas like theft, murder, and taxation. To make people follow the law, he declared that he had been appointed by the gods to rule over the citizens of Mesopotamia. If people believed that their ruler was chosen by divine will, they would be far more accepting of imperial rule.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, a scientific revolution transformed Europe, leading to major breakthroughs in medicine, astronomy, and physics. Child mortality rates decreased, and European rulers supported scientists and explorers to discover new ideas and resources. Christopher Columbus' voyage across the Atlantic demonstrated the value of the scientific method, sparking a rush to explore and map the world. This led to the growth of European economies through exploration and innovation, as well as the establishment of global empires and trade networks.

By the 19th century, the British Empire had spread across a quarter of the world, influencing local customs and cultures with European norms. Although the empires have dissolved, their cultural legacy remains. One of the most significant global norms is capitalism, which emphasizes the importance of money. People worldwide now prioritize earning and displaying wealth through material possessions. This focus on wealth has been reinforced by science, which has challenged many religious principles. As a result, people have shifted from seeking happiness in the afterlife to pursuing pleasure on earth, driving the desire to buy and consume more products and services.

In the 20th century, countries rely on each other for prosperity. Global trade and investment connect many nations, making war or instability in one area affect others economically. This is why leaders from America, Europe, and Asia want to maintain world peace. Compared to the violence before World War II, the world is relatively peaceful today. This might be surprising, but history shows that human societies have been moving away from violence since the Agricultural Revolution.

What does the future hold for humanity? Scientists are working on answering this question, making progress in bionic technology and anti-aging. In bionics, they've merged humans with machines, creating impressive advancements. For example, Jesse Sullivan, an American electrician who lost his arms, was given new bionic ones that can be controlled by thought. Scientists are also making progress in anti-aging, doubling the lifespan of certain worms and working on doing the same with mice. However, scientific study in these areas is limited by legal restrictions due to ethical concerns. But if humanity gets the chance to live indefinitely, it's likely that these barriers will be overcome. In the future, humans may change their bodies so drastically through science that they'll become a new species, half organic and half machine.