Civilization began around 12,000 years ago.
Since then, we’ve made incredible leaps in both technology and society.
In 10,000 BCE, the average 15-year-old, well... likely didn’t live past age 12.
Through biomedical advancements, we’ve reduced child mortality rates by over 90%.
🔥 Awesome.
But wait. With that, we’ve more than doubled the average human lifespan.
The highest regional life expectancy is now in Monaco, at 89.6 years.
That’s a roughly 3X improvement.
Nice work, humanity.
The internet connects, informs, and educates the world.
Since 1983, it has scaled to over 5,000,000,000 people.
We’re approaching 70% internet penetration worldwide.
The globe’s rapidly growing economies are fueled by energy generation.
But fossil fuel emissions have deteriorated ecosystems and natural environmental cycles.
Slowly, we’re making the transition to a sustainably-powered future.
Clean energy sources account for roughly 20% of global energy production.
Most humans who ever lived were slaves, indentured servants, or peasant laborers. As recently as the 1800s over 80% of the world was in extreme poverty.
We chopped this number in half.
And then we did it again.
And then again.
As of 2022 9.2% of the world’s residents now live in extreme poverty.
Writing is pretty cool.
It made history start existing. It made complex economies possible. It continues to enable billions of people to support their family and participate in a democratic society.
12,000 years ago no one knew how to write.
In 1900 hardly 20% of the world was literate.
This number is now 87%.
Modern democratic governments ensure fundamental freedoms and human rights to citizens.
Since the enlightenment, we’ve reached roughly 3.7B people living in democracies.
We still have a ways to go.
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