The human race is anything but perfected. From sticks and stones we turned to pencils and guns, and the concept of language was developed into several functional systems. Harari gives an insight on how our languages have developed to become the complex systems that it’s turned out to be; gossip (Harari, pg. 25). The developing of the languages the prehistoric humans used to hunt and gather strengthened their survival due to their communication skills heightening. In other scenarios, there’s (unclear) documentation of early dynastic humans painting in caves to warn others of dangers, or where to find food and if it’s safe to eat. The strengthened communication skills between the vast groups of humans greatly ties into the Agricultural Revolution (9,500-8,500 BCE). Along with the harvesting of wheat and domestication of animals, the harsh labor of doing these tasks soon urged groups of Sapiens to create camps in order to alleviate the stress. These two revolutions kick-started the development of modern day humans.
Harari states that homosapiens have the ability to work together and also have connections with one another. He then goes on to say that we, as a species, are flexible. I, although agreeing with the previous statements, disagree when the author fails to proceed with other factors as to why homosapiens became the dominant species on Earth. It’s relevant to note that before language or agriculture became practices, cultures did not suffer without them. These two components simply improved life in those said cultures. I am, however, skeptical on the thought that humans became dominant due to their brains expanding enough to believe in fiction—or in other words, believe in dreams and religion—to connect with each other. I personally believe there are more concepts that pushed the human race to where it is now rather than cognitive and agricultural revolutions.
Hi Kayla!
You gave me a new insight on the Harari text, which I really like. You state that there must be more concepts “that pushed the human race to where it is now rather than cognitive and agricultural revolutions”. It is a great statement, because it is skeptical to think about homo sapiens becoming dominant because of our language and agriculture. But if these two things weren’t the only reason why we became dominant, what can be the other reasons?
Great post!
I liked your points!
I like that you said you are unsure about the dominance coming from brain expansion to include fiction. I think it more so came from development, or like Harari mentions, a genetic mutation that actually turned out to be dominant and aided in evolution. I think that fiction was a way to keep safe or a way to try and understand things that did not make any sense as a way to search for survival. After the agricultural revolution, I think this expanded to, essentially, free time. The surplus of food takes away the aspect of constant survival, which opens up doors of more time and energy, and this creates a lot of space in a humans mind that needs to be filled with something such as art and eventually writing due to the large amount of surplus that kept coming.
I like your opening statement to start off the blog when you said the human race being anything but perfect. We are a race based on making mistakes and learning from it for the future growth. You made a great point touching on the development of languages and writing through revolutions. The Cognitive Revolution was a huge leap in that department because we vamped up our communication skills as you described very well in your first paragraph. You’re second paragraph was great because of how it uses Harari’s exact thoughts on how homo sapiens worked together and were flexible creatures. I never looked at it that way but I guess this is when we started having real connections with each other. Ultimately, this was a great blog and you helped show a whole new side of homo sapiens.