"Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on or by imbeciles who really mean it."
― Laurence J. Peter
The Truth:
About 13.8 billion years ago, the Big Bang set matter, energy, time, and space in motion. The study of these fundamentals is called physics.
Around 300,000 years later, matter and energy formed atoms, which then bonded into molecules. The study of these interactions is called chemistry.
About 4 billion years ago, on Earth, some molecules assembled into increasingly complex structures, eventually becoming organisms. The study of life is called biology.
Around 70,000 years ago, Homo sapiens began developing even more intricate structures—cultures. The study of human cultures and their evolution is called history.
Three major shifts shaped history: the Cognitive Revolution (about 70,000 years ago) sparked human culture, the Agricultural Revolution (12,000 years ago) accelerated change, and the Scientific Revolution (500 years ago) set humanity on a whole new path.
Humans existed long before history. Human-like species appeared around 2.5 million years ago, but for most of that time, they were just another species in a vast ecosystem.
Free yourself from intellectual intimidation, transcendental blackmail, and religious misology.
Link: Zoomable Tree of Life