This section of Sapiens was extremely interesting as Harari does a fantastic job connecting ancient processes of human culture to more recent history as well as modern culture. Due to the creation of capitalism, consumerism and strengthened individuality Harari reveals the nature of modern human culture. Furthermore, Harari states that “the state and market approached people with an offer that could not be refused” such as the option to not just follow family trade, shy away from luxuries, or rely on community assistance when you are unable to work (Harari 402). Instead the state and market can “…provide food, shelter, education, health, welfare and employment” (Harari 402). What made Harari’s argument that the state and market are central to human culture so strong is his in-depth description of capitalism being shifted to provide a constant reciprocal flow between profit and production and at its core pushes the idea that “…economic growth is the supreme good” (Harari 351). This idea pushes society to keep on spending money freely in support of the new technology and products provided, thus promoting more profit and production by those companies.
As we move into the future historians can play a rather vital role in preserving the ideas of past societies. By doing this we can have a more inclusive record of how societies have attempted to manage population, economics and environmental well-being. Additionally, the work of historians provides us with the connections each system both human and more than human have within a society and its environment. This can help create a more holistic picture of how the world systems interact in an assortment of different ways and will negate the reliance on traditional linear processes to understand the utility of society. We are already noticing the once thought limitations of society and realizing the limitations are only created by our own ignorance as an intelligent species.