Last Minute Lecture

The Arrow of History — Cultural Evolution, Globalization, and the Unification of Humankind Explained | Chapter 9 from Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari Does history have a direction? In Chapter 9 of Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind , Yuval Noah Harari argues that the answer is yes. The grand trajectory of human civilization has pointed toward greater unity, complexity, and global interconnection. Watch the complete chapter summary below and subscribe to Last Minute Lecture for expert, academic guides to every chapter! Cultural Evolution and the Forces of Unification Harari explores how imagined orders—religions, ideologies, and social norms—allowed humans to cooperate on a scale far beyond anything seen in nature. As these cultural constructs became more complex, they enabled millions of strangers to act together based on “artificial instincts.” Yet, cultures are dynamic. Driven by internal contradictions—like the tension between liberty and equality—they continually adap...