'Sapiens - A Brief History of Humankind' by Yuvan Noah Harari is one of the seminal books that has come out in last few years. In this book Harari explores the history of Humankind from the genesis of Genus Homo to the possible advent of Super Humans.
Humans first evolved in East Africa about 2.5 million years ago from genus of apes called Australopithecus. About 2 million years ago some of these Humans migrated to settle vast areas of Europe, Africa and Asia. Humans in Western Asia and Europe evolved into Homo Neanderthalensis, in East Asia they evolved into Homo Erectus, Homo Rudolfensis in East Africa among others.
Humans first evolved in East Africa about 2.5 million years ago from genus of apes called Australopithecus. About 2 million years ago some of these Humans migrated to settle vast areas of Europe, Africa and Asia. Humans in Western Asia and Europe evolved into Homo Neanderthalensis, in East Asia they evolved into Homo Erectus, Homo Rudolfensis in East Africa among others.
Homo Sapiens evolved from humans in East Africa about 200,000 years ago and by 70,000 years ago they spread out to rest of the world. By 30,000 Neanderthals of Western Europe became extinct and by 13,000 years ago Homo Floresiensis also became extinct and Homo Sapiens became only surviving Human species. Homo Sapiens played a 'stellar' role in destroying the pristine flora and fauna of the world and colonizing even the remotest places. They changed the ecosystem where ever they went. Red Indians, Maoris, Aborigines etc were perhaps the first colonizers of America, New Zealand and Australia.
The Homo Sapiens ability to communicate and organize themselves in bigger groups made them distinct and powerful from the other Homo species and this enabled them to outsmart all other species. An average Homo Neanderthal can defeat an average Homo Sapiens on any given day but an Army of Homo Sapiens can never be defeated by an Army of Homo Neanderthals. No one knows for sure how Homo Sapiens got this unusual gift, was this random selection by Nature or was this a design by providence, no one knows. Harari has termed this as 'Cognitive Revolution' It happened about 70,000 years ago. This was followed by Agricultural Revolution about 12000 years ago and the current age of Industrial Revolution that started about 400 years ago. These three revolutions have made Homo Sapiens the master of this Planet and are daring to colonize other planets.
Harari also talks about various 'myths' like religions, companies, nations etc envisaged by Humans to create different kinds of organizations in order to keep Homo Sapiens organized and ensuring their lives full of meaning. He also mentions in details about the credit revolution that enabled the small peninsula to conquer the entire world. How Spain was able to destroy mighty Aztecs and Incas and how a small company was able to conquer India, he has tried to explain this. Its a very fluid and interesting read.
Highly Recommended (10/10)
3 comments:
What a coincidence . Reading same book confirming what i know , thought about along with lots of wisdom and nuggets by prof harari. Before reading further on your blog , i would like to tell you about another book by same author titled 'homo deus' . You will like it .
I am the same riddle , let me know who i am because we know each other :) .
Army of homo sapiens can not be defeated by neanderthals because they could not have an army . Neandethals remained bands at best .Army is large scale organization requiring huge flow and digestion of information among themselves . This basis of organization based on information makes them vulnerable to mutinies as it is not instinctive but human made . So a wise general should always be watchful .
Riots in India can be looked at in this perspective (also) .
My reco for you -'gun germs and steel ' by J. Diamont . Either documentary or book or both .
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