Ancient And Medieval Times Essay, Research Paper

2 million years ago, life on Earth for mankind was very different. Back then,

technology as we know it did not even exist. Over the years, mankind?s increased

scientific knowledge has allowed him to increase the amount of personal luxuries, but not

without a cost.

The first human beings may have appeared 2 million years ago, but they did not even discover fire until 1.5 million BC. From a purely technological standpoint, todays world far surpasses that of the old. All the comforts of modern technology are at our fingertips, and living outdoors is no longer a necessity, but a leisure activity. For most of us, entertainment is not a problem. Electronic video and computer games are readily available, as is 24-hour TV ? for a price. Foraging for food is reduced to a short trip to the supermarket, except for those who provide the said food. Of course, nothing comes for free, and the time which might have been spent hunting for food is spent working in offices and such. In a world of such plentiful knowledge, only incredibly advanced specialization, and an increased population, has allowed mankind to progress.

With so many people, mankind has been forced to spread outwards in a desperate need to colonize new lands. With new technology, nothing is impossible, and even the barren wastes of the scorching desert or freezing artic are not unlivable. Even further outwards, the vast reaches of space beckon. All this colonization however, would be impossible without the help of technology for communication and transportation. With the invention of airplanes, flying halfway around the world in 10 hours is made possible.

In stark contrast to all these wonders, prehistoric life before the invention of farming or herding was a constant struggle for survival. Hunting and foraging for food were daily activities which occupied most of the free time. Also, before all the advances in medical knowledge, diseases or injuries were almost always fatal. What with the harsh living conditions and dangerous creatures, the average life span was an appalling 20 to 30 years.

Still, it wasn?t all bad. For one thing, people of that time didn?t know of all the failings of modern society, like poverty, oppression, drugs, crime, or pollution. Technology has sometimes been something of a two-edged sword. Some of the wounds, such as poverty, have been cut too deep and may never heal. Back then, people were probably satisfied with life, if only because it was all they knew.

In conclusion, modern life has, in some ways improved since prehistoric times, although for some, it is worse. But for better or worse, all that matters is the future, and if mankind can make up for some of its failings, the future will be a much brighter place.