The book sapiens book by author yuval noah harari talks about the human species since its emergence on Earth more than 200,000 years ago
The book sapiens book by author yuval noah harari talks about the human species since its emergence on Earth more than 200,000 years ago, leading up to the present day. Let's explore together the milestones that the human species has experienced throughout history. The book was Published several years ago, specifically in 2014, and has been translated into many languages. It is considered one of the best-selling books of all time. The book covers many topics related to the human species, such as philosophy, biology, politics, and many social influences, as well as a range of cultures.
Let’s tell the story of the book sapiens a brief history of humankind, which begins with an introduction about humans Homo sapiens and the difference between them and Neanderthals, particularly in terms of intellectual development resulting from the great cognitive revolution that occurred during that era. The cognitive revolution began 70,000 years ago, which urged minds to communicate precisely and think abstractly about their surroundings, leading to an incredible development. This, combined with cooperation, sparked a real breakthrough, starting with collective hunting and collaboration in daily affairs.
The topic of the agricultural revolution in the book harari sapiens discusses its occurrence since the dawn of history over 12,000 years ago, which is considered one of the earliest revolutions that caused a leap in the world of knowledge. Humans previously relied on gathering fruits and individual hunting, but with agriculture, groups began to live in one place connected to the cultivated land. The connection of humans to a single location instead of nomadism was a major reason for the establishment of civilizations, their inheritance, and the availability of private property, leading to a home for every family and land and possessions with an understanding of their meanings. However, on the other hand, it was a major reason for a significant increase in the population, leading to overcrowding.
The second type of intellectual revolutions discussed in the sapiens book began in the 16th century and is considered the most impactful revolution, as people started using the scientific method in their daily lives. This science applied to political, economic, and philosophical realms of thought, leading people to adopt critical thinking.
The industrial revolution, the newest and last revolution discussed in the sapiens book, took place in the 18th century and was a necessary outcome of the scientific revolution. After the discovery of science, ideas for creating vehicles and agricultural machines emerged, gradually leading to a purely industrial mindset, moving away from agriculture. This led to faster development; the working classes evolved significantly, and communication increased as means of transportation and travel were invented.
In the last part of sapiens a brief history of humankind, the author discusses the challenges that the world may face in the future, some of which have already occurred. Topics such as artificial intelligence, which will emerge with scientific and technological advancements, and genetic engineering, which is considered a recent scientific breakthrough in this field, are addressed. Harari poses the question of whether humanity will be able to surpass and control the scientific revolution that will occur or if things will spiral out of control.
