30,000 years ago: Human handprints in southern France.
13.5 billion years ago: Big Bang; formation of matter, energy, time, and space (Physics).
300,000 years after Big Bang: Atoms form molecules (Chemistry).
3.8 billion years ago: Formation of organisms on Earth (Biology).
70,000 years ago: Homo Sapiens form cultures (History).
Three revolutions: Cognitive (70,000 years ago), Agricultural (12,000 years ago), Scientific (500 years ago).
Impact of Homo Sapiens
Prehistorage: Homo Sapiens were initially insignificant.
Evolution and development of culture led to advancements like lunar exploration and genetic understanding.
Classification of organisms into species and genus; humans belong to Homo sapiens.
Evolution of different human species (e.g., Neanderthals, Homo erectus).
Homo sapiens survived and thrived over other species through cultural and cognitive developments.
Cognitive Revolution
Species and Evolution
Human evolution began around 2.5 million years ago in East Africa from Australopithecus.
Evolution led to distinct human species: Homo erectus, Homo soloensis, Neanderthals, Homo sapiens.
Extinction of sibling species and dominance of Homo sapiens.
Cognitive Abilities
Larger brains in humans but also higher energy consumption and physical limitations (e.g., childbirth hazards).
Cognitive skills: planning, language, social abilities.
Early human social structures and group sizes.
Language and Social Structures
Unique human ability to invent and pass on complicated cultural myths and stories enabled large-scale cooperation.
Cognitive Revolution: Shift from small groups to large complex societies through shared myths and flexible cooperation.
Development of Culture and Society
Early Human Culture and Artifacts
Limited by perishable materials; most tools made from wood.
Seasonal and migratory band lifestyle; eventual development of agricultural settlements.
Social hierarchy and division of labor based on evolved traits and cultural norms.
Impact of Language and Mythology
Language simplified interactions and fostered large social groups and more advanced cooperation strategies.
Myths and religion helped unify and control larger human populations with common beliefs and norms.
Evolution of complex societies through shared beliefs and values.
Agriculture and Human Societies
Dawn of Agriculture
Shift from hunter-gatherer societies to settled agricultural communities around 10,000 years ago in the Middle East.
Domestication of plants and animals; shift in social structures and division of labor.
Agriculture enabled permanent settlements, property accumulation, and social hierarchies.
Social and Economic Changes
Development of complex societies, cities, and later, empires due to stable food production and surplus.
Conflicts over resources led to fortified settlements and militaristic societies.
Rise of social stratification and specialized roles beyond basic survival tasks.
Unification of Humankind
Empires and Trade
Empires played a significant role in cultural merging and the emergence of larger societies and cultural norms.
Historic examples: Roman Empire, Persian Empire, Chinese Empire, and their impacts on global culture.
Exchange of goods, ideas, and cultural practices through trade routes and conquests.
Modern Global Culture
Cultural globalization accelerated by technological advancements and economic trade (e.g., mixing of culinary practices, language proliferation, etc.).
Economic, political, and scientific collaboration forming a global society with interconnected systems.
Scientific Revolution
Characteristics of Modern Science
Admitting ignorance and basing theories on empirical observations and mathematical formulations.
Constantly evolving understanding of the world through testing and disproving existing theories.
Integration of science, technology, politics, and economics forming the bedrock for advancements in human society.
Developments and Impact on Society
From Galileo to modern-day quantum mechanics, scientific discoveries have transformed daily life and global power structures.
Relationship between science and technology underscored by governmental and corporate funding influenced by political and economic interests.
Future of Human Society
Increasing scientific breakthroughs in genetics, nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence ever-more shaping the socio-political landscape.
Potential ethical dilemmas from scientific advancements, balancing human needs with moral implications of research and technology.
Conclusion
Cognitive revolution, agricultural advancements, and modern science have all shaped human society significantly.
Understanding history is crucial for shaping a scientifically informed and ethically balanced future.