The story of human evolution is a lengthy and complex one. From the moment that our earliest ancestors first began to walk on two legs approximately 3.6 million years ago up until the present day, the development of Homo sapiens has been a series of calculated decisions and leaps forward in adaptation and advancement. The ability to craft rudimentary tools, the introduction of agriculture and the development of writing are just some of the milestones that enabled the expansion of humanity.
The stone age is the preeminent example of how tools shaped the development of human civilization over the course of thousands of years. During this period of human history there was a progression from pioneers crafting and using primitive stone tools such as flint blades and hand axes up to the development of sophisticated tools and weapons crafted from copper and bronze. These tools were used for hunting, fishing, gathering and agriculture, among other pursuits. There is evidence to suggest that this period was also one of monumental social change, as people moved further and further away from a hunter-gatherer lifestyle and began to settle down in established communities.
Agriculture is another major milestone in human development, as it enabled populations to grow rapidly and freed up creativity and resourcefulness that would have otherwise been devoted simply to sourcing food. The invention of the plow allowed large swaths of land to be cultivated quickly and set off an explosion of experimentation and discovery in terms of planting and harvesting. This period of time also saw the rise of specialized professions such as blacksmiths and carpenters, who worked with metal and wood, respectively, to craft tools, weapons and furniture. The advent of the potters wheel increased the efficiency at which ceramics could be produced for both utilitarian and aesthetic purposes.
In the same spirit of creativity and invention borne out of the agricultural revolution, human beings eventually developed writing systems. The oldest known writing, known as cuneiform, dates back to the 4th millennium BC in the Middle East. This early form of writing enabled the development of various forms of communication and the spread of information. It allowed for the cataloging of history and enabled people to store and share their knowledge with one another.
Humanity has come a long way over the past few hundred thousand years. From relatively basic tools of stone to complex systems of language and writing, the development of Homo sapiens has been an incredible journey. We have achieved a tremendous amount and have much to be grateful for, but the future promises to bring even more exciting and groundbreaking discoveries that will continue to shape the course of human development.
