When Time Became History - The Human Era

Summary

This script explores the profound transition from hunter-gatherers to farmers, which began around 20,000 years ago. It discusses how early humans started cultivating crops and domesticating animals, leading to settled communities and the Agricultural Revolution. Despite challenges like disease and a less diverse diet, humanity thrived and multiplied. The script ponders why this change occurred and suggests it was a deliberate, global choice, possibly driven by our innate ability to share knowledge and innovate. It ends by drawing a parallel to today's potential 'Planetary Revolution,' inviting reflection on our past to shape a grateful future.

Takeaways

• 🌌 **Planetary Revolution**: Humanity is transitioning into a multiplanetary species, leading to a significant increase in population, technological advancement, and a shift in self-perception.
• 🔍 **Archaeological Challenge**: Future archaeologists will have to piece together our era from remnants, much like how we study the past with limited information.
• 📺 **Evolution of Media**: Our understanding of history evolves from 4K media to black and white, photographs, paintings, texts, and finally to sparse, unreliable reports.
• 🌾 **Agricultural Revolution**: The shift from hunter-gatherers to farmers began around 12,000 years ago with the domestication of key crops, leading to a settled lifestyle.
• 🌱 **Early Agriculture**: The cultivation of wild wheat in the Jordan Valley over 20,000 years ago marked the start of a slow transition to agriculture.
• 🍞 **First Bread and Beer**: Early agricultural surplus allowed for the creation of the first bread and beer, indicating a shift in human diet and culture.
• 🌐 **Global Transition**: The agricultural revolution was a gradual process driven by small groups over many generations, spreading globally.
• 🏠 **Settlement and Society**: As agriculture developed, people began to live in villages, towns, and cities, leading to a more structured society.
• 🌡️ **Health and Disease**: The close quarters of early settlements led to the rise of infectious diseases, impacting mortality rates, especially among children.
• 🔄 **Why Agriculture?**: The reasons for the shift to agriculture are still debated, with climate change, undernourishment, overpopulation, and social factors all being considered.
• 🌟 **Human Connection**: The ability to gather, share knowledge, and celebrate may have been key in spreading agricultural knowledge and shaping human history.

Q & A

What significant change did the archeologist discover from the buried items?

The archeologist discovered evidence of a transition from a nomadic lifestyle to a settled, agricultural one, which marked the beginning of the Planetary Revolution where humanity became a multiplanetary species.

How does the script describe the advancements in human history?

The script describes the advancements in human history as a slow transition that eventually turned into a revolution, leading to an explosion in population, improvements in technology and standard of living, and a change in self-conception.

What is the 'Planetary Revolution' mentioned in the script?

The 'Planetary Revolution' refers to a period in human history when humanity transitioned to becoming a multiplanetary species, with significant advancements in technology and living standards.

How far back in time does the script suggest we can look at our past?

The script suggests we can look back at our past approximately 12,000 years, with the earliest evidence of human behavior coming from the Jordan Valley where ancestors collected wild wheat.

What was the lifestyle of humans 20,000 years ago?

20,000 years ago, humans lived a hunter-gatherer lifestyle, utilizing general intelligence, social intelligence, and language to survive and thrive in communities.

What was the significance of the discovery of wild wheat in the Jordan Valley?

The discovery of wild wheat in the Jordan Valley was significant because it led to the understanding that planting seeds could produce more plants, which was the beginning of agriculture and a shift from a nomadic to a settled lifestyle.

How did the agricultural revolution change the way humans lived?

The agricultural revolution drastically reduced the space needed to feed individuals, allowing humans to settle in one place longer, which eventually led to the formation of villages, towns, and cities.

What were the challenges faced by early humans transitioning to agriculture?

Early humans transitioning to agriculture faced challenges such as a decline in dietary variety, potential undernourishment, increased risk of disease due to close living quarters with animals, and higher mortality rates, especially among children.

Why did the number of humans on earth increase despite the challenges of the agricultural revolution?

Despite the challenges, the number of humans increased because settled living allowed women to bear more children, and for farmers, more children meant more labor to work the fields.

What is the script's hypothesis for why humans chose agriculture over hunting and gathering?

The script suggests that the choice to adopt agriculture over hunting and gathering was a deliberate one made by communities worldwide, possibly driven by the human ability to come together, develop shared identities, and exchange stories and knowledge.

What message does the script convey about the importance of coming together and sharing knowledge?

The script conveys that coming together to share knowledge and celebrate has been a catalyst for change throughout human history, and it suggests that doing so again could lead to another peaceful transition, like the planetary revolution.

Outlines

00:00

🌌 The Dawn of Multiplanetary Humanity

This paragraph discusses the hypothetical scenario where an archaeologist 12,000 years in the future tries to understand our current era, known as the Planetary Revolution, by examining the remnants we leave behind. It contrasts this with our attempts to understand past human revolutions, such as the shift from a nomadic lifestyle to agriculture. The paragraph emphasizes the rapid advancements in technology and living standards during the Planetary Revolution and how our self-perception as a species has evolved. It also highlights the challenge of reconstructing past human experiences from limited historical records and artifacts, drawing a parallel between the distant past and the potential understanding of our present by future generations.

05:03

🌱 The Agricultural Revolution: A Slow and Steady Transformation

The second paragraph delves into the gradual development of agriculture, which began over 20,000 years ago with the collection of wild wheat in the Jordan Valley. It outlines how early humans learned to cultivate crops, leading to a more settled lifestyle and the eventual establishment of permanent settlements. The paragraph explains that this agricultural revolution was not an instantaneous event but a slow process that unfolded over many generations. It also touches upon the challenges faced during this transition, such as a decrease in dietary diversity and the rise of infectious diseases due to closer living quarters. Despite these hardships, the human population grew significantly, and the need for efficient food production methods increased. The paragraph concludes by pondering the reasons behind this significant shift in human lifestyle and suggests that it may have been a deliberate choice influenced by social interactions and the sharing of knowledge.

Keywords

💡Planetary Revolution

The 'Planetary Revolution' refers to the hypothetical future transition of humanity becoming a multiplanetary species. This concept is central to the video's theme as it sets a futuristic context for discussing human evolution and the potential changes in our way of life, technology, and societal structure. The script uses this term to draw a parallel with the past agricultural revolution, suggesting that such a transition could be as significant and transformative.

💡Archaeologist

An 'Archaeologist' is a scientist who studies human history and prehistory through the excavation of artifacts and other physical remains. In the script, the role of the archaeologist is used metaphorically to illustrate the challenge of understanding past civilizations based on limited remains, such as 'your junk in the woods.' This highlights the importance of the artifacts and knowledge we leave behind for future generations.

💡Agricultural Revolution

The 'Agricultural Revolution' is a pivotal point in human history when the shift from hunting and gathering to agriculture occurred, leading to permanent human settlements. The video discusses this revolution as a gradual process that transformed human society, allowing for population growth and the development of complex societies. It is used to draw a comparison with the potential 'Planetary Revolution.'

💡Domestication

'Domestication' in the context of the video refers to the process of selectively breeding and training animals and plants for human use. This concept is integral to the agricultural revolution narrative as it allowed humans to control their food sources, leading to a more stable food supply and the eventual rise of civilizations. The script mentions the domestication of '15 different founder crops' as a key development.

💡Hunter-Gatherers

'Hunter-Gatherers' are people who rely on hunting animals and gathering wild plants for subsistence. The video uses this term to describe the lifestyle of early humans before the agricultural revolution. It contrasts this lifestyle with that of farmers, emphasizing the significant changes that occurred as a result of the shift to agriculture.

💡Calories

In the script, 'calories' are mentioned as a measure of the energy content in food, which became a critical factor with the advent of agriculture. The shift to farming allowed for a more concentrated and reliable source of calories, supporting denser populations. This is exemplified by the statement that 'most of the calories we consume today stem from about 15 different founder crops.'

💡Disease

'Disease' is discussed in the context of the video as a consequence of the agricultural revolution, where living in close proximity to animals and other humans facilitated the spread of infectious diseases. The script mentions diseases like 'cholera, smallpox, measles, influenza, chickenpox, and malaria' as outcomes of this new lifestyle.

💡Mortality

The term 'Mortality' is used in the video to describe the rate of death within a population. It is highlighted that despite the rise in mortality rates, particularly among children, the overall human population grew due to the ability to have more children in a settled, agricultural society. This reflects the complex interplay between lifestyle changes and demographic shifts.

💡Shared Identities

'Shared Identities' refers to a collective sense of belonging and similarity among a group of people. The video suggests that the development of shared identities may have played a role in the adoption of agriculture, as it facilitated cooperation and the exchange of knowledge. This concept ties into the broader theme of human social evolution and the factors that drive societal change.

💡Feasts and Rituals

The video mentions 'feasts and rituals' as social events that may have been catalysts for the spread of agricultural knowledge. These gatherings allowed for the exchange of ideas and innovations, such as better farming techniques, which could have contributed to the widespread adoption of agriculture. This highlights the role of social interaction in technological and cultural advancement.

💡Gratitude

'Gratitude' is used in the script to convey a sense of appreciation for the past and the steps taken by our ancestors that have led to the present state of humanity. It is a call to reflect on our own actions and consider how they might be viewed by future generations, encouraging a mindset of stewardship and respect for the legacy we leave behind.

Highlights

Humanity transitioning to a multiplanetary species during the Planetary Revolution.

The future archaeologist's challenge of understanding our era from remnants like buried junk.

The difficulty of reconstructing past revolutions with limited historical evidence.

The rapid technological and societal changes in the past few generations, from black and white to 4K.

The evolution from hand-copied texts to digital information in a few generations.

The significant transition in human history from hunter-gatherers to settled societies.

The development of early agriculture in the Jordan Valley over 20,000 years ago.

The process of domesticating plants leading to the agricultural revolution.

The critical mass of knowledge that led to the agricultural revolution around 12,000 years ago.

The transformation of human lifestyle from nomadic to settled farming communities.

The trade-offs of the agricultural revolution, including diet variety and health.

The rapid population growth due to settled farming lifestyles.

The increased efficiency in food production due to the need for more calories.

The mystery of why humans chose agriculture over the freedom of hunting and gathering.

The role of climate change and external factors in the shift to agriculture.

The idea that the agricultural revolution was a deliberate choice by communities.

The importance of social gatherings in spreading agricultural knowledge.

The potential for current humans to come together and initiate another peaceful transition.

The hope that future generations will look back on our era with gratitude.

Transcripts

Imagine someone coming into your kitchen and taking a few tools, a pan and your garbage.

Then they bury everything in the woods. 12,000 years later an archeologist is trying to figure who you were.

What was important to you, what video games you played, what you believed in

and what informed your decisions. Because you happened to live during a remarkable time in human history:

The Planetary Revolution, when humanity transitioned, becoming a multiplanetary species.

In that time, our numbers would explode by orders of magnitude, our technology and standard of living would improve to levels previously thought impossible

and our self conception would change forever. And all the future archaeologist has to learn about is your junk in the woods.

While we can only hope this will be someone's problem in 12,000 years, we have the same problem today.

We are trying to reconstruct a revolution that took place 12,000 years ago.

Today, only shadows remain of the people who experienced our distant past as their present.

What Remains from our past

We can look at our present in crispy 4K, in color and sound.

Three generations ago the world was just black and white.

One more generation and we see the world through blurred photographs.

Further back paintings and texts become our main way of experiencing the past.

A mere 20 generations before us today, every written word had to be copied by hand

and reports became more scarce and less reliable.

The first historian lived a mere 100 generations ago.

Before him, there are only epics and legends and dead kings bragging on pieces of stone.

250 generations ago there are only fragments left in the ground and images stripped of their original meaning.

Eventually humanity becomes basically invisible.

Still, we do know some things about our ancestors.

Let's try to tell their story and what it means for us today.

#1 The Greatest Transition in Human History

For some two million years or roughly 80,000 generations, the life of our ancestors was basically the same.

It was around 20,000 years, or 800 generations ago that the behaviorally modern humans began a process

that would change our lifestyle forever.

At first, gradually, for some of us. Then faster for more of us. And then suddenly for almost all of us.

Back then there were about one million modern humans on earth.

Most other human species had died out, probably with a little help from us.

Our ancestors' biology had given them the necessary tools: ,

A general intelligence to understand things a social intelligence to understand each other

and language to express abstract ideas and create new concepts.

These were people just like you. They suffered and experienced joy, were bored, cried and laughed.

They lived in communities of a few dozen people.

They controlled fire and had tools made from wood, stone and bone,

told stories, mourned their dead and created art.

They traded with other tribes, from obsidian to shellfish.

Some hunted big game and were very mobile, others relied more on plants they collected

and others mostly stayed in one area with an abundance of seafood.

This was the common state of humanity for most of our history.

Until a slow transition, step by step, turned into a revolution.

#2 Step by Step

The first solid evidence for this stems from the Jordan Valley,

where our ancestors collected wild wheat more than 20,000 years ago.

They noticed that seeds in the ground made more plants the next year.

If they put good ones in one place, the next year they had more of the good ones.

This was a great supplement to hunting and gathering.

You could prepare some crops, return next year, build a temporary settlement and have a secure food supply.

Our ancestors used these bonus crops to bake the first bread and to brew the first beer.

With every generation, they gathered deeper knowledge about the plants and animals around them

and how to manipulate them to their advantage.

But there was a lot to learn.

Very slowly, from generation to generation pockets of knowledge expanded

and were passed along to be expanded again.

This early agriculture started to drastically reduce the space our ancestors needed to feed one individual.

Which made it possible to stay in one place longer.

Around 12,000 years ago these little pieces of progress had reached a critical mass.

Most of the calories we consume today stem from about 15 different founder crops

that humans began to domesticate in earnest in the next few thousand years.

What we call the agricultural revolution was not a thing that began suddenly one day.

It was a slow process driven by small groups over many generations.

Eventually gradual change gave rise to a new era.

#3 The Human Era.

During the next few thousand years, progress would speed up and turn hunter gatherers into farmers

who lived in villages, towns and then cities.

When farmers moved into new areas they replaced the nomadic tribes or turned them into farmers too.

This was neither easy nor painless.

In the early days people had a diverse diet made of up to 250 different plants and animals.

For some of the groups transitioning to agriculture the variation in their diets declined drastically

and some even seem to have been undernourished.

And living close together and with animals created a breeding ground for disease.

Virtually every infectious disease caused by microorganisms that have adapted to humans arose in the last 10,000 years.

Cholera, smallpox, measles, influenza, chickenpox and malaria.

Mortality, especially among children, rose drastically.

Still, our numbers grew because living in the same place enabled women to bear far more children than before –

and for a farmer more kids mean more hands to work the fields.

Even with more people dying younger, villages and towns grew. The number of humans on earth exploded.

About 100 generations after the beginning of the Human era, there were already four million of us.

This increased the need for food and forced people to come up with ever more efficient ways of producing calories -

solidifying our new lifestyle.

Going back to hunting and gathering would just have meant death by starvation for most.

One question remains unanswered: Why?

Why would people exchange the freedom of living off nature with a huge variety in food for the grind of agriculture and often more limited diets?

Nobody knows for sure. Climate change seems to have made the transition possible

and some scientists argue that it was caused by external factors like undernourishment or overpopulation,

both highly contested.

Today the most widely accepted idea is that it was a deliberate choice, made by countless communities around the globe.

Maybe it is also connected with what makes us human.

The ability to come together, develop shared identities and exchange stories and knowledge.

Some archaeologists think that groups of hunter gatherers traveled long and far to celebrate, to hold feasts and rituals.

They would have used these occasions to talk about their version of innovation:

better hunting and tool making techniques, how to catch and breed animals and which plants could be collected and multiplied,

maybe they even exchanged seeds.

It is not unlikely that these gatherings were the catalysts that spread the knowledge of agriculture

through the many isolated groups of humanity.

Ultimately ending a lifestyle that was common to our species for thousands of generations.

So by being able to come together, celebrate, share and learn from one another,

these humans might have taken the steps that lead to our modern world and we have much to be grateful for.

We are still the same humans today, even if it often doesn’t feel that way.

Maybe it is time to come together to share what we know and celebrate our existence once again,

to begin another peaceful transition, maybe the planetary revolution, that will change everything once more.

So hopefully, in another 12,000 years, our descendants will look back on us today with gratitude,