What lies at the core of human progress? This episode asks ancient history what created human innovation and what stopped it for so long?

For 3.5 million years, humans and our ancestors were stuck in the Stone Age until 10,000 years ago we finally broke out of it and all manner of inventions was let loose.

We study tribal life across the world from anthropological records and archeology of the stone age to reconstruct the lifestyle of our ancestors and the forces against them. From personal pressures to global currents, we trace the blocks on human development. The answers hold many insights for today when we think about innovation, technology and how to make progress..

We cover:

• What were we busy with for 97% of our existence?
• Why were we so slow at innovating?
• How did we eventually overcome these fundamental forces?

This episode is ground zero as we begin our expedition through history and the creation of our modern world.

ABOUT

This show is an independent podcast on a mission to document the most important inventions in history in chronological order. We hope you join us for the ride to learn how the world changes and inspire you to build the future of technology.

It is written, recorded, re-recorded, rewritten and re-re-recorded entirely by Sam Webster Harris.

(He also makes the music.)

Find out more or contact the show - ChangeTheWorldPod.com

Designs were crafted by Francisca Correia (Available to hire)

Podcast strategy from Jeremy Enns (Available to hire)

BOOKS

The World Until Yesterday: What we can learn from traditional societies - Jared Diamond

An overview of the world last uncontacted tribes and their ways of live compared to today.

Don't Sleep, There Are Snakes: Life and language in the Amazonia jungle - Daniel L. Everett

Astonishing experiences and discoveries by missionary Daniel Everett in the Amazon jungle in 1977

CHAPTERS:

00:00 The Hand Axe Conundrum

01:53 Episode Goals

03:45 #1 - SURVIVAL

04:21 Energy requirements

06:30 Time Scarcity

08:59 Risk and Psychological Safety

11:17 #2 - CULTURE

12:41 Why people hate new ideas

15:25 The Grandmother Hypothesis

16:21 Widowhood statistics

17:46 Kaulong Tribe Widow killing

19:27 Catalhayuk - 1000 years of stasis

20:36 #3 - KNOWLEDGE

22:42 Losing knowledge

24:04 Maths

24:52 Communication and Language

25:53 Ice Age Picasso Paradox

27:06 #4 - MOBILITY CONSTRAINTS

28:05 Nomadism

30:22 Racism, war, and travel complications

32:07 Trade Issues

34:02 Feasting examples

35:51 #5 - POPULATION DENSITY

37:27 Evolution of Multicellular Life

39:54 Dunbars Number

41:25 Mortality Rates

42:46 Systems Feedback effects

44:31 LESSONS - How we beat the locks

48:00 Conclusion - Innovation isn't about Geniuses

50:50 What can you do

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