fire and ice

the path of human cultural evolution is marked by the footsteps of fire and ice. we, arguably, wouldn't be who we are if not for these two. they are the immediate foundation of two of our greatest achievements as a species: science and agriculture. the "discovery" of fire itself is possibly our crowning scientific accomplishment, as many of our innovations throughout human history have been either enabled by it or involved it directly. ice, or rather the melting of glaciers gave humanity an abundance of fresh water, giving our ancestors the ability to leave behind (for the most part) a nomadic, hunter-gatherer existence for a more rooted, agricultural lifestyle. from this were developed systems of ownership and subsequently wealth. with a steady and reliable food source, the human race had something new: free time. in our free time we have created and evolved myriad arts and sciences. we have come to domesticate and breed animals for food and companionship. we cultivate plants for food, medicine and beauty. we have extracted elements from the earth and shaped them into charms, idols, weapons, pottery, crowns, shackles, musical instruments, jewelry and skyscrapers, to name a few. the combination of fire and ice's other self, water, has given us a culinary repertoire not safely imagined by our hunter-gatherer ancestors. yes, the path of human cultural evolution is markedly marked by the footprints of fire and ice.