HISTORY'S PROGRESS THUS FAR

I perceive pre-history and and history as constituting a constant progression, along numerous avenues.  True, of course, there are instances or periods--sometimes long ages--during which one or more particular paths of progression slows, stops, or even turns back upon itself.  But the net long-term effect seems nevertheless to be an inexorable journey by mankind from point A to point B.  And I further perceive one very clear aspect of this journey as being a march, ever onward, further and further toward and into states of joinder, homogenization, and unification.

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According to science, life on earth began as a single molecule many eons ago.  As time went on, molecules joined together into larger and larger assemblages, evolving into the vast collections of molecules that comprise the world's living organisms.  Some of these creatures led, and lead, more or less solitary lives; while others have adapted to life and survival by residing together in groups, herds, and colonies.  One of these social creatures is man.

From our probable origin in Africa, man spread to all six of our naturally inhabited continents (via separation of land masses, migrations, etc.).  In doing so, human groups became initially isolated from each other, separated for millenia by oceans, deserts, and mountains; and thus became differentiated biologically, into our modern races. 

In four million B.C., the Australopithecines, the earliest hominids, already lived together in communities.  These earliest societies were extremely small and isolated groups.  A person might live his or her entire life without meeding anyone from another such group or tribe. 

Composing these tiny social groups were a few family units.  The origin of the family unit, and of groups thereof, constitute manifestations of the ongoing biological and social progression, whereby individual human beings lived and remained together for mutual benefit and survival. 

Cooperation seems to be the key term, when we consider humanity's development and progress in those earliest years.  Moreover, as time went on, the scope of these cooperative efforts appeared to grow and enlarge, so as to concern more and more men and women than in earlier societies.