Memes, not genes, led to civilization
June 5th, 2009Population density, not a sudden increase in human brain power, led to the emergence of modern human behavior. That’s the thrust of a new study by UCL (University College London) scientists published in the journal Science.
High population density leads to greater exchange of ideas and skills and prevents the loss of new innovations. Complex skills learned across generations can only be maintained when there is a critical level of interaction between people. It is this skill maintenance, combined with a greater probability of useful innovations, that led to modern human behavior appearing at different times in different parts of the world.
So it’s memes, not genes, that’s primarily responsible for civilization.