Human interactions among strangers were often violent long before trade-based societies emerged, and war over limited resources was relatively common. Things changed, however, as we lived in larger groups and traded with outsiders. Trust developed between us, which propelled humanity forward.

The miracles of globalization are clear to consumers. Consumers can purchase products from all around the world, and they have access to a wide variety of goods and services. This is possible because people specialize in doing one thing well, so that they can trade their goods with others who do ...

The threat of overpopulation was real, but technological advances over the past few centuries have put an end to it.

• First, internal combustion engines replaced draught animals that required extra land for grazing. There was an instant shift from grazing to farming. 
• Secondly,...

Around 7,000 years ago, cities appeared along trade routes in Mesopotamia, where goods were exchanged from around the world. Wine, metals, olive oil, wheat and wool, as well as other goods they could not source locally, were traded through these routes. 

The products made from these goods a...

Innovations have continued to be sparked by cities throughout history. As London developed more inventions than any other city in 1800, the world marveled. It is not that Londoners were smarter than everyone else, but rather that the city was drawing talent from around the world. 

Inventors...

By sharing ideas, they grow and thrive. Since the 1800s, we have increased living standards as a result of the accumulation of collective knowledge.

As more people gain an understanding of a bicycle, for instance, they will find new ways to use it and develop new technology based on it....

People’s lives are easier now than ever before because they don’t need to spend every hour providing for themselves; instead, they rely on the labor of others thanks to transportation and logistics.

The division of labor began thousands of years ago after cooking with fire became commonplac...

The discovery of fossil fuels such as coal led to the greatest improvement in energy efficiency. In the late 1900s, these fuels accounted for 85% of the world’s energy use. Suddenly, slavery and animal labor became unprofitable because fossil fuels were so efficient. Everyone’s income and standar...

Our cultural evolution began with cooking. Cooked foods are higher in calories and require less chewing than raw foods. In less time, more nutritious food could be shared by more people due to cooking. It also led to the early specialization of labor: women gathered grains, while men hunted large...

We can prevent climate change altogether. Even if environmentalists try to reduce carbon emissions by force, natural reductions are occurring nonetheless. Technologies are continuously improved to reduce carbon emissions. 

As the ratio of carbon atoms to hydrogen atoms decr...

Over the past 10,000 years, life expectancy has increased and infant mortality has decreased. People are healthier now than they were in the past. They have more food options and can afford to buy everyday items that are much cheaper than they used to be. 

Life has improved drastically over...

Although the world has become a better place, it’s not necessarily making people happier. People in developing nations are doing better than those in developed ones were 50 years ago. However, they’re still not satisfied with their lives and want more things like electronics and cars. One reason ...