Defining Moments of Humanity

[Alnitak]

First Homo Sapiens

Omo Remains
c. 195,000 BC

Out of Africa

c. 100,000 BC

First artworks

Chauvet Cave
c. 30,000 BC

Domestication

Fertile Crescent
c. 10,000 BC

Writing

Sumer
c. 3400 BC

Statehood

Egypt
c. 3100 BC

Democracy

Athens
C. 500 BC

Movable metal type

Korea
1377

Abolition

c. 19th Century

Splitting the atom

Hahn, et al.
1938

Computer

Z3
1941

 

[luckynumbah7]

Ahem. Y'forgot sliced bread.

 

[JPGhost]

And yet..we arrived in the very last 60 seconds of the year when compared to cosmic calendar

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmic_Calendar

 

[Benvolio]

The development of free enterprise capitalism and resulting industrial revolution about 1800, is one of the most important development. Prior to it, the vast majority of people lived in abject poverty. It has been capitalism which has given first world peoples their prosperity.

 

[ChickenGuy]

The arrival in the Holy Land of 'Jesus' and the birth of Christianity would (regrettably) have to be included amongst these defining moments, as the impact of organised religion on human civilisation has been nothing if not profound/pivotal/destructive/cataclysmic (insert whatever word you wish) on humanity's existence.

As a counter to this, I'd also include (in vague terms) the era of the Renaissance and the Enlightenment, where the birth of science and expression of free thought and new ideas were sprung forth.

I would seriously say the arrival of the Internet would have to be included, as global online networks or more generally modern technology and the computer age has completely changed society.

 

[Cormac135]

Square Sausage.

 

[frankfrank]

Democracy

Athens
C. 500 BC

I see "DEAD" in there!

 

[bort138]

When humans developed the technology to put cheese in the crust of pizza

 

[borg69unimatrix]

Indoor plumbing/toilets.

Lube.

Digital cameras.

Fast food.

Porn.

Air conditioning.

Snooze buttons.

 

[johaninsc]

coinage..

 

[medic1]

Childbirth.

 

[Felverick]

Gobekli Tepe deserves to be up there as it's (what appears to be considering only 5% has been excavated) the first example of organized religion. I've been insanely fascinated with the place.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ec/Göbekli_Tepe.jpg/1920px-Göbekli_Tepe.jpg

 

[frankfrank]

The invention of the air sickness bag.

The first traffic jam.

The invention of the "Do not remove under penalty of law" mattress tags.

 

[Kulindahr]

Two things:

1. You missed the introduction of agriculture, which as far as we can tell happened to provide grain for beer.

2. The first abolitionists in the West were actually in the very late first and the early second century -- Christians who took note that every individual is made in the image of God, and therefore owning them is blasphemy. It rose again in the seventeenth century, during Newton's lifetime.

 

[Telstra]

Adam and Steve

 

[Willie Boy]

...The invention of the "Do not remove under penalty of law" mattress tags.

Why does everybody forget the second part of that? The part that says "Except by the consumer."?

In other words, once it is purchased and brought home it is legal to remove the tag. The only reason it is illegal to remove the tag before that is because there is information (material makeup of mattress and such, in case of potential allergy issues) that must be disclosed to the end consumer for for safety reasons.

 

[OPHELIA_HARDIN]

Fascinating, thanks!

Gobekli Tepe deserves to be up there as it's (what appears to be considering only 5% has been excavated) the first example of organized religion. I've been insanely fascinated with the place. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Göbekli_Tepe

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

koff"

thankyou